MORATORIUM on capital punishment, imposed since 2008, was lifted for terrorism-related cases this year, but most of the those executed were not guilty of terrorism. Yes, they were accused of killing people, but these killings were mostly on the basis of enmity or a momentary clash. The actual terrorists are still roaming freely, identified or unidentified, no matter what!

Furthermore, in most of the world different methods of execution are used, namely lethal injections, electrocution, firing squad, beheading and hanging.

The method used in Pakistan is hanging which, in my view, is very cruel and agonising. If a person is sentenced to death for his cruel act, he is already paying the penalty and, therefore, the punishment should be inflicted in some other way which is less painful.

Nimra Zaheer

Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2015

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