LHC suspends execution of murder convict

Petitioner claims jail authorities took death warrants from the trial court, which is illegal and against his rights

LAHORE: A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday suspended the execution of a convict till March 16 and issued notice to the jail authorities and other respondents in this regard.

The execution of Qaiser, alias Billa, was previously scheduled for March 11, 2015 at Faisalabad jail.

The bench, headed by Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi, was holding proceedings on a petition filed by Qaiser. The petitioner through his counsel submitted that he was awarded death sentence in a murder case, adding that he had compromised with the legal heirs of the deceased but that the trial court would not accept it.

The petitioner also said that jail authorities had taken death warrants from the trial court, which is illegal and against his rights.

Appearing before the court, a law officer submitted that the accused was tried under murder and Anti-Terrorism Act charges. He added that the ATA was non-cognizable therefore his execution cannot be stopped.

However, the court, after hearing the arguments, suspended the execution till March 16, the next date of hearing, and issued notices to the jail authorities and the trial court.

According to the prosecution, Qaiser killed Shafique, a trader, for failing to pay him extortion.