IHC asks petitioner for legal precedent to reopen Shafqat Hussain case

Justice Minallah says case cannot be reopned after it has been settled by Supreme Court

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday asked murder convict Shafqat Hussain's counsel to give a legal precedent for reopening of a case that has been decided by the country's highest court.

During the hearing of a petition which seeks formation of a judicial commission to determine Hussain's age, Justice Athar Minallah said the petitioner must provide valid arguments to IHC for hearing a case which has earlier been settled by Supreme Court.

The court adjourned hearing till May 8, asking Hussain's lawyer to provide legal justification for his plea.

Hussain was due to be hanged today but IHC had stayed the execution after declaring that the inquiry conducted by the Federal Investigation Agency to determine Hussain’s age was “illegal”.

The case has angered human rights groups and prompted mercy appeals from his family, claiming the convict was 14 years old when he was charged with kidnapping and murdering a boy in 2004 and was brutally tortured into confessing the crime he did not commit.

Initially, Hussain was to be hanged on March 19 but was given a reprieve after a vociferous civil society campaign.