HRCP seminar discusses adverse effects of executions. PHOTO: FILE
Gulping her tears she restlessly skims her purse looking for her most valued possession. With the fear of losing her wallet, she safely tucks it in the side pocket of a little black diary that she carries with her at all times. As her eyes welled up Silvia Henry Pershad says “This is all that I have of him”. Sliding out the only picture that she has of her son Obaid Henry Pershad, She claims to fight for the right her son’s life who is currently on death row in Central Jail Punjab.
Silvia Henry Pershad can barely check her tears as she holds up the only picture of her son. “This is all I have of him.” She is talking about Obaid Henry Pershad, presently on death row. “He was 16 when the police took him,” said Silvia, a retired teacher and a widowed mother. For Silvia, life has been at a standstill since he was taken. She visits Obaid once a month. “He demands snacks and candies but I try to take fresh fruit for him. Last week I took a cake and a card. It was his 23rd birthday.” Obaid is among 8,300 prisoners presently facing the death penalty in Pakistan.
With more than 139 countries having abolished the death penalty in law or in practice, the number of death row inmates seems to be bloating in Pakistan every year. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) at a seminar, “Death penalty - the way forward,” highlighted some of the key issues in this regard. Presenting a paper, “10 demands on 10/10,” human rights experts pressed the government to abolish the death penalty and sign the second optional protocol of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Until such time, Pakistan should renew the moratorium on death penalty which has been in existence informally since 2008, they suggested. Moreover, the number of offences attracting the death penalty need to be curtailed.
Kamran Arif, a lawyer, said religion is often invoked to justify capital punishment in Pakistan, adding that the government should abolish the death penalty for over two dozen capital offences which does not religiously justify death. Of the 41 countries, including Pakistan, which voted against the 2012 moratorium resolution, 16 have not executed any person for at least a decade.
Maryam Haq, a lawyer working with the Justice Project Pakistan, said a death cell is eight by 12 and houses more than three people with a toilet inside. “Death penalty is not a quick fix.”
Anees Jillani, an advocate said The Justice System Ordinance prohibited the award of death penalty to children under 18. In 2004, however, the Lahore High Court revoked it, due to which 1,200 children are behind bars. He said the system was corrupt to the core. “Everyone has a price, if you are Shahrukh Jatoi, you can get away with murder.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 11th, 2013.
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@ashar: I am a liberal and I am for the death penalty for murderers and rapists.
I don't know about other countries but in Pakistan, I feel we should have the death penalty. And only for the crimes of murder, rape, serious assault (assault where a disability in a person is caused) and acid throwing. When you do these crimes I think you give up your right to life. But the death penalty should only be applied if the person is 18 or older, and it has been verified that the person actually did the crime.
Frankly I feel its more humane to execute a person than to keep him in prison indefinitely or upwards of 20 years which he would have gotten in lieu. Secondly letting them live or die should solely be based upon the desires of the legal heirs of the victims.
why Human Rights Organisation not first impose death moratorium on those countries where death sentences are still carried on, especially in some states of America....death sentences must be carried on to deter other terrorists from committing such acts in future.I do not understand when Politicians, civil society members and public in general demand exemplary punishment, yet our same people succumbs to international pressure groups...and recently, Mr Ansar Burney has also appealed abolishing death penalty...why ? how are we going to get rid of such elements if we are such hypocrites ? are these same people / HRO / HRCP / NGOs will take responsibility that these convicted elements on death row will become a refined citizens once released into the society....do they have any road map, if so, they should share with the people of Pakistan, otherwise, those convicts should meet their fate, whether one likes it or not, otherwise these leaders and those who supports death moratorium will be considered as an accomplice in the death of innocent people....why HRO / EU etc; not pressure Saudi Arabia when they carry out death sentences ?
No death penalty for a murderer and rapists but drones are legal killing old, women and child in waziristan.
Human Rights Organisations should wait until such time that their own loved ones are killed by some one else any where in the world.
At that point people should ask the Human Rights Activists whether they want to see the murders to go to the gallows or they want to pardon the murderers?
Liberals are silent. I know why?
what EU/HRCP imposed on us is any way supported by our 180 million people and its assemblies or ex-president/pm and present one asked someone from public,has terrorism decreased rather increased and organizations(HRCP/EU/GP etc etc)are adding to our miseries and encouraging more terrorism-this is all double gaming of the WEST-it is being imposed has no merit-it is misuse of our other weakness and poor leadership.
Who is going to pay for room and board of murderers and terrorists? HRCP? We cant feed the innocent, yet some folk want us to give lodging to the guilty for the rest of their natural lives.
Till Pakistan has enough money to keep a criminal locked up for 100 years, till then its best to get rid of the terrorists/murderers/criminals etc
Normally, I'm all for liberal causes.
However, regarding the death penalty, I feel we should put our foot down and not pay attention to what international bodies and HRCP says.
We have rapists who rape 5 year olds, acid attackers and terrorists who have killed thousands. Having them live out life sentences on taxpayers expense is not humanity but denial of justice to the victim.
Japan, US, Malaysia, Indonesia all execute prisoners. They are still upheld as progressive societies to which people flock to (legally or illegally).
It is when I read articles like these that I feel that religious conservatism in this country is needed.
yeah right human rights for a rapist, a murderer and terrorist the one who killed million innocent people and who show no remorse after committing most heinous crimes. i don't get this humans right people where are they when because of one person whole family is destroyed where are they when he rapes where are they when he kill where are they when terrorists kill innocent childrens huh? still these human rights people want that he shouldn't be given a death penalty huh? i wonder when their loved one is victim of these heinous crimes still they don't not a deathly penalty for that person.