Here is the view point offered by various political parties on the issue.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl
Referring to the shariah law, JUI-F leader Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said: “There already is a law in the field; therefore, there is no need for new legislation.” When asked his party’s position in case a bill is introduced that converts the death penalty into life imprisonment, he said: “We will not accept the bill and use all our strength against it.”
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz
Deputy Secretary General PML-N Ahsan Iqbal said his party would strongly oppose if such a bill is introduced in parliament. “It is like giving a license to criminals to kill people, and get away with it,” Iqbal said, adding that globally, the death penalty has proven to be a deterrent against heinous crimes.
“It looks like there are some people within the government who fear their own misdeeds, and have come up with a plan to convert the death penalty into life imprisonment,” he said. Instead of such legislation, we need an effective justice system, he added.
Jamat-e-Islami
JI leader Liaqat Baloch said the proposal to abolish the death penalty has been under discussion for a while but that his party does not support the idea.
He said that under Islamic law there already is an option for the aggrieved family to pardon an offender on death row. “[Converting the death penalty to life imprisonment] is like giving protection to [a] terrorist,” he said, adding that his party will oppose the bill if introduced in parliament. At present, the JI has no representation in either houses of parliament.
Awami National Party
Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel from the ANP said the government had not contacted its coalition partner to seek support over the bill. “We will discuss the matter in our party once a bill over the subject is introduced by the government, and then decide our position,” he said.
Adeel said there were several punishable offences under Hudood laws and the government had no authority to issue pardon in those cases. Only the family of the aggrieved has the right to forgive, he added.
However, he said, there was no harm in converting death penalty to life imprisonment in cases where people had spent sufficient time in jails, and their crimes were not heinous.
PML-Q, MQM reserve stance
Secretary General Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid Mushahid Hussain Syed and Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) both said their parties would give their stance once the government moves on the issue.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 12th, 2012.
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