NGO requests higher judiciary to probe Balochistan juvenile death sentences
SPRAC made this appeal during a a press conference in Quetta on Wednesday. Officials included SPARC National Manager Child Rights Iqbal Ahmed Detho and SPRAC Balochistan chapter Regional Manger Hanif Khan Panezai along with General Secretary Balochistan Bar Association Attaullah Langov Advocate and Regional Director Ministry of Human Rights, Saeed Ahmed Khan.
The five cases, during trials in lower courts, the legal counsels of the juveniles did not take up a plea of the defendants being juveniles and did not request the respective judicial officer to determine their age, trying their cases under the prescribed manners and procedures given in the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance (JJSO) 2000.
Putting the blame on the judges as well, SPRAC added that trial judges too failed to apply their judicial mind during the proceedings.
They further said that these five juveniles who were awarded the death sentence included Bhai Han son of Shah Mohammad Chandio, Naseerullah son of Rehan Langov, Zahoor Ahmed son of Sajawal Jakhrani, Sarfaraz son Rashid and Rahmatullah.
SPRAC also highlighted the fact that since Pakistan was a signatory to the United Nation Convention for Child Rights, death sentences could not be awarded to the juveniles, adding that the Pakistan law of JJSO-2000 also prohibited awarding death sentence to juveniles.
They also demanded establishing a vocational institution for juveniles in Balochistan.
Only five countries in the world including the US, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen awarded death sentence to juveniles, SPRAC said.
Pakistan under the current government, has followed an unspoken vow of avoiding death sentences.
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@ A J Khan Don't predict false on Balochistan issue like PTV does on weather forcasts
BLA is using juvenile murderers so that later they can be benifited on legal grounds. Similarly active terrorists are first registered as "Missing" or Kidnapped, so that when they are arrested they can ask Ch IftikharChaudry that this man was missing and was kidnapped by FC. Reality will prevail. Those who supported the terrorists of Lal Masjid, and released by the court, today have realised that these terrorists cannot mend their ways. Malala is the latest victim. Today the decision of the courts in support of terrorists,stands exposed and is considered as a contempt of "BLOOD OF SHAHEEDS AND INNOCENT PEOPLE".