Shafqat Hussain's family presents birth certificate to media

As per birth certificate, Shafqat was born on 01 October 1991, making him 13 years and six months when convicted

MUZZAFARABAD: Hours before his execution, 'underage' convict Shafqat Hussain's family on Wednesday presented his birth certificate to the media in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The move comes a day after Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar asked for proof to establish that Shafqat was juvenile when convicted.

Shafqat's family presented the birth certificate issued by local government and Rural Development Department Secretary Town Committee of Kail in which his date of birth was written as  01 October 1991.

“It is a matter of law and Constitution because the seven-year-old child killed by him [Shafqat] also had legal rights,” Nisar said. “No record of Shafqat Hussain’s age is available.”

Read: Church attacks: Nisar calls Lahore lynching ‘worst kind of terrorism’

“Proof [of Shafqat being juvenile] should be brought within the next 36 hours, before March 19, which is the date of his execution. Otherwise, he will be hanged on March 19 in accordance with the law,” he added.

Shafqat’s mother, elder brother, younger sister and the representative of Justice Project Yasir Sahbaz  presented the birth certificate before the media during a press conference in Central Press Club saying they are ready for the DNA test to confirm Shafqat’s age.

Read: Mercy plea: Shafqat Hussain’s mother turns to president

Shafqat's elder brother, Manzoor Ahmad said that the birth certificate has already been mailed to the interior ministry.

“We have provided the copies of his birth certificate to the court as well,” Manzoor said, appealing the government to halt the execution of his brother.

“Or they should re-investigate the case or pardon him as a minor convict, keeping his birth certificate in view as he was awarded the death sentence at the age of 13 years and six months.”

Shafqat’s family members also provided the supporting documents of computerised National Identity Cards to the Interior Ministry to verify Shafqat’s birth certificate.

Shafqat’s family members added they have no resources to travel to meet Shafqat in Karachi.

"If my son is hanged it would be judicial murder,” Shafqat’s mother said, with tears rolling down her cheeks.

Shafqat’s sister urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain to use their offices to halt the execution of her brother.

Justice Project representative Yasir Shahbaz questioned, “Why has the Interior Ministry not collected the data of Shafqat Hussain from NADRA to verify his age?”

The convict Shafqat Hussain would be hanged on Thursday, March 19 in Karachi.

Last meeting

Jail authorities on Wednesday evening called Shafqat's two brothers who live in Karachi to see him for the last time. Shafqat's brother appealed to the president and the interior minister to pardon their brother.