Execution: Death row prisoner’s appeal dismissed

LAHORE: A division bench of Lahore High Court on Monday dismissed the appeal of a convict challenging his execution. The bench had earlier stayed the execution of Qaisar alias Billa. The trial court has issued his death warrant. Qaisar’s counsel had pleaded that a settlement had been reached between the victim’s family and his client. Billa had killed a trader, Muhammad Shafique. Prosecution said the convict was tried under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). He said the offence under the ATA was non-compoundable and the execution could not be stopped. The bench then dismissed the appeal.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2015.