Justice system: Murder convict to be hanged today

DERA GHAZI KHAN:

A man convicted of murder will be hanged at Dera Ghazi Khan Central Jail on Tuesday (today). Police said on Monday that arrangements for the execution had been completed. He said the convict had met his family in the afternoon.

They said Asghar Ali had been convicted of killing nephew Yasin on April 16, 2,000 in Layyah. A Layyah district and sessions judge had sentenced him to death. Appeals to higher courts and the president were rejected.

Police said a Dera Ghazi Khan district and sessions judge had originally issued death warrants for Ali for March 17. However, an hour before the execution, Yasin’s sister Sajida Bibi submitted a letter to magistrate Abdul Sattar, saying she would forgive him for killing her son if he handed over his 36 kanals property to her.

Police said Mumtaz Bibi, the victim’s wife had insisted on the execution. The judge had then deferred the execution till April 7.

Ali will be hanged at 5:30am. Ali had married twice. His wives Kaneez Bibi and Shehnaz Bibi told newsmen after meeting him for the last time on Monday that he was innocent. They said he had had a weak defence because his family could not afford to hire an adequate legal team.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2015.