Moratorium on death penalty: Resumption of executions Pakistan’s internal matter says US

"Clearly this is a decision for Pakistan. It’s not really ours to weigh in on,” deputy spokesperson Marie Harf says

WASHINGTON:

The US State Department said on Wednesday that Pakistani government’s decision to revoke the 2008 moratorium on the death penalty in terrorism-related cases is its internal issue.

“Well, clearly this is a decision for Pakistan. It’s not really ours to weigh in on,” deputy spokesperson Marie Harf told a daily press briefing. “We just don’t have a position on that to outline for you,” she said in response to a question regarding condemnations by human rights bodies against the resumption of executions in Pakistan.

About the grant of bail to Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the State Department spokeswoman said, “We’re concerned by the reports that this individual terrorist got bail.

“The government of Pakistan has pledged its cooperation in bringing the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice, and we urge them to uphold that promise,” she added.

EU criticises resumption of executions

The European Union on Wednesday opposed Pakistan’s decision to lift ban on the death penalty, insisting that capital punishment was not an effective tool in the fight against terrorism.

“The EU delegation regrets the decision of the government of Pakistan to lift the moratorium on executions, which had been in place since 2008,” said a statement issued by the 27-nation economic bloc.  “We hope that the moratorium will be re-established at the earliest.”

However, the EU expressed its support to Pakistan and said it stood by Pakistan’s side and shared its grief after the horrific attack on a school in Peshawar. “The EU delegation also welcomes the resolve of the Pakistani people to deal with the scourge of terrorism and violent extremism in all of its manifestations.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2014.