ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain has said that Pakistan’s decision to lift moratorium on death penalty will act as a deterrent against terrorism.

“Lifting the moratorium is a deterrent to financiers and handlers of terrorism,” he said during a meeting with a delegation of the German-South Asian Parliamentary Group of the German Parliament on Wednesday. Niels Annen, the group’s chairman, led the delegation during the meeting held at the presidency.

Read: President briefed on decision to end moratorium

The decision to lift the moratorium was based on the desire of people who had been demanding stern action against terrorists, he said.

Mr Hussain said that the country’s policy on death penalty had been made in the light of its constitution and international laws.

The government lifted the six-year moratorium in December 2014 and it is expected that the decision will lead to execution of about 8,000 death-row prisoners. The process has started and over 60 convicts have been hanged since the lifting of the moratorium.

Some western countries and human rights organisations have criticised the government for executing convicts of crimes other than terrorism.

“Terrorists have no religion and the need of the hour is to promote inter-faith harmony for world peace,” the president said.

Decision to lift moratorium is based on the desire of people who were demanding stern action against terrorists

He said the Constitution guaranteed fundamental rights of all citizens irrespective of religion, race, caste, colour, creed or gender.

He told the delegation that the government was taking steps to prevent misuse of blasphemy law. “The law is non-discriminatory as it applies to both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.”

On the country’s role in war on terrorism, he said Pakistan had been the worst victim of terrorism as more than 60,000 innocent Pakistanis had lost their lives and the country had suffered the economic loss amounting to more than $100 billion.

Reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to fighting terrorism and extremism, he said a National Action Plan had been formulated to effectively deal with the menace.

He said Operation Zarb-i-Azb against terrorists would continue until terrorism was eliminated and expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved so far.

The government, he said, had set up a National Commission on Human Rights to ensure an independent judiciary, free media and a vibrant civil society to protect human rights.

President Hussain said Pakistan held its relations with Germany in high esteem. “Pakistan seeks enhanced bilateral contacts, parliamentary exchanges, trade and cooperation in defence, counter-terrorism, energy and other fields,” he said.

He said the government was keenly anticipating the visit of Chancellor Angela Merkel to Pakistan this year on the invitation of the prime minister.

Later, addressing a meeting at the National Defence University, the president said that challenges to national security needed to be tackled through a comprehensive and unified approach.

“Pakistan is going through difficult circumstances and facing multi-dimensional challenges, including terrorism, but the army is bravely fighting against militancy in tribal areas to restore peace in the country,” he added.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2015

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