International affairs: EU for bar on executions

Says global conventions should be followed for duty-free market access.

ISLAMABAD:

The European Union (EU) has urged Pakistan to reinstate the moratorium on death penalty, saying effective implementation of international conventions is mandatory for the country to seek duty-free access of its goods to the European markets.

In a statement issued by the EU headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, the 28-nation bloc voiced concerns over the growing number of executions in Pakistan.

At least 150 people have been executed in Pakistan since December 2014, when the government lifted its moratorium on executions in place since 2008. “This represents a major step backwards in Pakistan’s record on human rights,” the EU statement read.

Referring to the recent execution of Aftab Bahadur, who was said to be a minor when he was sentenced to death in 1992, the EU regretted that the convict’s alleged juvenile status at the time of the crime and torture while in custody to extract a confession was not given due consideration.



The statement also referred to another such case, saying the Supreme Court has dismissed the latest petition of Shafqat Hussain, who again faces execution and who may also have been a juvenile when he was convicted. Torture was also alleged in this case.

The EU also reminded Pakistan of its obligations under domestic and international laws to prohibit the death sentence for crimes committed by people under 18 years of age. “Effective implementation of international conventions is a requirement under the EU’s GSP+ regulation,” the statement recalled. “We call on Pakistan to reinstate the moratorium and to fully respect all its international obligations.”

The EU opposes capital punishment in all cases and has consistently called for its universal abolition. Last month, acting EU Ambassador to Pakistan Stefano Gatto, in an interview with The Express Tribune, cautioned that lifting of the death penalty moratorium could be taken as a negative step although it might not be directly linked with the GSP-plus status.

When asked whether these issues could affect Pakistan’s GSP-plus status, he replied: “It is difficult to argue that the restoration of death penalty or more executions is a step in the right direction in the EU.”

The GSP-plus status allows almost 20% of Pakistani exports to enter the EU market at zero tariff and 70% exports at preferential rates.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2015.