Eliminating terrorism: Religious scholar urges govt to hang prisoners sans discrimination

Says it should not give in to pressure from foreign countries to stay executions.

HARIPUR: Tehrik-e-Jahfria Pakistan (TJP) on Monday stressed the government must not discriminate in the execution of prisoners on death row, adding it should hang all of them without any delay and sans pressure from foreign countries.

Speaking to journalists in Haripur, TJP Central General Secretary Allama Arif Hussain Wahidi said Pakistan has made several international commitments, but a moratorium on the death penalty was against the spirit of Islam.

“Had the rulers continued with the execution of terrorists and blood letters of innocent citizens, the situation would have been quite different right now,” said Wahidi, adding the death penalty serves as a deterrent against the killing of people.

The TJP leader stressed the government should ensure there is no discrimination in hanging murderers.



Terming pressure from other countries in the matter a non-issue, he said Pakistan has an abundance of natural resources and does not need foreign assistance if rulers honestly work to exploit and utilize these resources. “We need to put aside the begging bowl and rely on available resources. It’s the only way to free ourselves from the clutches of donor agencies.”

Wahidi accused European countries of duplicity, saying: “On one hand they force us to exercise restraint against the killers, but on the other they themselves are the biggest violators of human rights.”

He rejected the notion that terrorist acts were based on sectarian differences, claiming it was part of an international conspiracy that was opposed to the creation of Pakistan and used stooges and paid agents for their nefarious designs. He held state organs responsible for terrorism in the country, saying they should have taken similar action much earlier to the December 16 incident as that would have saved the lives of hundreds of innocent men, women and children across the country.

TJP provincial president and former provincial minister Allama Ramzan Tauqir, Shia leaders Wasim Azhar Turabi, Fiaz Hussain, Advocate Syed Mehmood Shah Naqi were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2014.