Execution of death row prisoner Shafqat Hussain halted

Dawn.com Published January 6, 2015

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Monday announced that the government was going to halt the impending execution of Shafqat Hussain.

Shafqat Hussain, a watchman at a residential complex, was condemned to death by an anti-terrorism court in September 2004 for abducting and killing a child.

The convict was said to be 14 years of age when he was convicted, mainly based upon his own confession submitted in court after nine days of detention with the police.

Shafqat’s death warrant had been issued by an Anti-Terrorism Court in Sindh on Saturday and the now 23-year-old was penciled in for execution on January 14.

An anti-terrorism court on Saturday reissued his black warrant as Shafqat's appeal was turned down by the Sindh High Court and his mercy petition was also rejected by President Mamnoon Hussain.

Earlier, his family had been instructed by the authorities at Central Prison Karachi to make preparations for a final meeting with Shafqat.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan informed the lower house that the government had arrived at this decision after information regarding issues around Shafqat’s case reached the Ministry of Interior.

Also read: Not justice

Nisar also announced that an inquiry would be conducted by the ministry on the concerns raised regarding Shafqat’s conviction.

Pending an official notification from the Ministry of Interior on the Federal Minister’s announcement, prison authorities in Karachi continue to count down to January 14 and Shafqat’s execution.

Justice Project Pakistan, a non-governmental organisation working in the legal arena for prisoners facing the harshest punishments, has been pursuing Shafqat's case.

JPP Executive Director and consul of the convict Sarah Belal welcomed the decision and said: “Chaudhry Nisar’s announcement in parliament is definitely good news for the innocent Shafqat Hussain and his family. We are optimistic that the inquiry announced by the Interior Minister will take all relevant parties on board and lead to him eventually going home to his old parents.”

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Asif Kamil

Jan 06, 2015 07:40am

Unbelievable what's happening in our courts . God knows who is deserving and who is not for hanging ! Pathetic level of prosecution . We need revolution .

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AXH

Jan 06, 2015 07:46am

These types of cases need to be handled very carefully. This convict was 14 years old when he had committed the crime and no one knows whether he was forced to confess or he confessed on his own. This case cannot be equated to a terror related crime.

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Sana K

Jan 06, 2015 08:19am

Salute to Chaudary Nisar and PMLn.

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Sayyar Khan

Jan 06, 2015 09:11am

Is this a joke all those real terrosist are in jail and this 14 year old at that time gets to be hanged. What about Salman Taseer killer what about all these Shia , Ahmedi killers these are the real terrosist. This all drama is all just to hang who attacked Mushraf only.

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Tamza

Jan 06, 2015 09:15am

@Sana K I would agree with that sentiment if ALL on death row were re-processed with a VERY THOROUGH review of the testimony and prisecution. Specially, 'confessions' beed to be evaluated in light of the standard procedure used [torture] to extract these 'confessions'.

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Jan 06, 2015 09:34am

Who will punish those who damaged nails and burned body of that boy with cigarettes. And the judge who ordered execution on mere confession while the accused was minor. I don't like our hypocrite system. We are compromising on our constitution and do not want to correct rotten investigation system. An action plan to correct this rotten investigation system should be introduced 'on barrel ' if someone is sincere with this country. Sectarianism, cronyism ,land mafias,corruption, political oppression of the poorest and ultimately poverty and illiteracy are product of this policing system. Please, have a mercy on this country and introduce a action plan to correct system.

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Sid

Jan 06, 2015 09:48am

if a 14 yr old at the time of committing a crime could be issued black warrants, then the murderers of Shahrukh Jatoi should be hanged!

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Prince

Jan 06, 2015 10:22am

This case needs attention. This boy may have been convicted wrongly.

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asif

Jan 06, 2015 11:02am

How come a minor was sentenced to death.....

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Khuram Nisar

Jan 06, 2015 11:05am

President should have stopped the conviction due to age of convict.

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Tamza

Jan 06, 2015 11:06am

@z The whole system is flawed; a legacy of the colonial processes ... 'swift' and 'justice' usually cannot belong in the same sentence/ phrase. Indeed the 'prosecutors, the police, and judges, and IF there was any 'defense'. ALL should be called to face the 'firing' squad [the one that will deprive them of all civil rights.

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