LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed concern over recent actions by the authorities aimed at resuming executions for all death penalty offences.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, the Commission said: “The HRCP must express its serious alarm over worrying recent movement towards resumption of executions for all death penalty offences, soon after partial end to an informal moratorium to allow for executions of terror convicts.

“A presidential notification has been issued regarding withdrawal of a moratorium on executions for all death penalty convicts, and a communication sent by the federal interior ministry to all provincial home secretaries to carry out death penalties where all legal avenues have been exhausted.

Know more: Death penalty moratorium lifted completely in Pakistan: Officials

“The HRCP is dismayed that the general public sentiment over impunity for terrorists is being used to revive executions. This is a disturbing development particularly when the government had specifically advocated execution of only convicts of terrorism offences.

The HRCP would strongly advise against expanding that to all death penalty offences.

“In going for a general revival of executions without considering the deeply flawed criminal justice system context in Pakistan, we believe that the authorities are going for vengeance rather than justice.

The decision might also entail some economic cost for Pakistan, but HRCP urges the government to consider also the human cost of the decision.”

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2015

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