Pakistan rejects EU concerns over death penalty. PHOTO: PID
Pakistan on Friday rejected the European Union demand, seeking an immediate end to executions in the country.
Speaking at a weekly news briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah defended the revocation of a moratorium on the death penalty, saying the punishment was well within the parameters of international law.
Referring to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Khalilullah said Article 6 of the covenant states that every human being has inherent right to life. “This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.”
But at the same time another clause of the ICCPR states that in the countries that have not abolished the death penalty, a sentence of death may be imposed only for most serious crimes in accordance with the law.
“Our Constitution and legal system contain the death penalty, and it is within the parameters of international law. It is the responsibility of the state to protect the life of its citizens and we are doing that,” Khalilullah said justifying capital punishment.
The FO reaction came after the EU urged Pakistan to reinstitute the moratorium on the death penalty.
Pakistan-India tensions
Asked about the stalemate in relations between Islamabad and New Delhi, the spokesman said Pakistan was pursuing a policy of ‘good neighbourly’ relations.
“There are serious issues between the two countries that need to be resolved through dialogue, which has been unilaterally suspended by India,” he added. “As far as Pakistan is concerned, we are committed to the dialogue process and to the peaceful resolution of all disputes, but that needs to be reciprocated by the other side.”
According to him, Pakistan would take all appropriate steps to protect its ‘vital interests’ in the face of recent threatening statements from the Indian political leadership.
Afghanistan ‘non-paper’
Replying to a question, Khalilullah said he was not aware of any ‘non-paper’ handed over to Pakistan by Afghanistan seeking action against the Afghan Taliban. “I’m not aware of any non-paper. Pakistan has brotherly, cordial, cooperative and positive relationship with Afghanistan,” he maintained.
The spokesperson said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had clearly stated during his recent visit to Kabul that Islamabad would strictly adhere to the policy of non-interference. The two countries also agreed not to allow their respective soils against each other. He added that Afghanistan’s enemies would be treated as Pakistan’s enemies.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 13th, 2015.
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