Short reprieve: No executions until March 24

The new death warrant for Saulat Mirza is likely to be issued on March 24

QUETTA:

The Balochistan home secretary announced on Saturday that no condemned prisoners will be executed in the country until March 24, citing provisions in the law.

Akbar Hussain Durrani said Pakistani law forbids hanging anyone on a holiday and on the day that follows. “Under this law, there shall be no execution on holidays, public holidays and during the month of Ramazan. After a holiday, prison officials do not execute anyone awaiting court remedy.”

The new death warrant for the condemned prisoner, Saulat Ali alias Saulat Mirza, who made dramatic confessions in a video aired hours before he was to be executed, is likely to be issued on Tuesday.

The Anti-Terrorism Court-V, which on March 11 had ordered Mirza’s execution, received on Saturday an intimation letter from the Mach jail authorities seeking fresh black warrants for the “notorious target killer”.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2015.