NEW DELHI, Sept 26: A Kashmiri man convicted of abetting the December 2001 attack on India’s parliament was ordered on Tuesday to be hanged on Oct 20. Human rights groups were planning moves to stall the execution of Mohammed Afzal, including a mercy petition that could be moved before President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

A Delhi court decided on the date and time on Tuesday. Afzal’s death warrant was issued by the sessions court, Patiala House, Delhi.

The Delhi High Court upheld the death sentence in October 2003. The sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court on Aug 4, 2005.

Shaukat Hussain Guru, a co-accused in the case, was handed a sentence of 10 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs25,000.

On Dec 13, 2001, the Parliament was attacked by five militants who stormed into the compound and killed several security personnel.

Delivering a final verdict in the case, the Supreme Court passed a death sentence against Afzal for providing logistical support to the terrorists. Professor S.A.R. Geelani, an Arabic language teacher at Delhi University, was acquitted in the case.

His wife says Afzal was framed by Indians security personnel and that the state lawyer who defended him was actually hostile towards him.