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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday approved the removal of moratorium on death penalty after the carnage in Peshawar killed 141 people.
Addressing an All Parties Conference (APC) in Peshawar, the premier announced that the moratorium on death penalty, which was imposed under international pressure, has been lifted.
“The prime minister has abolished the moratorium on death penalty in terrorism-related cases,” an official from Nawaz's office said.
Soon after resuming office, the newly-elected government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had said it wanted to reinstate the death penalty in a bid to crack down on criminals and militants.
In this respect, the government had decided to hang four convicts on death row in August last year. However, a temporary stay was ordered on these executions following objections from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and rights groups.
President Mamnoon rejects mercy petitions of convicted terrorists
President Mamnoon Hussain has turned down mercy petitions of eight convicted terrorists after the government lifted moratorium on death sentence for convicted terrorists.
These mercy petitions were pending in the presidency since 2012 and today the president rejected these mercy petitions by exercising his powers, a presidential source told Dawn.
Following rejections of these appeals, orders of executions have been passed onto various prisons for hanging of terrorists.
Read: HRCP’s rally against death penalty
A day before, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam - Fazl (JUI-F) Secretary General Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri had said in a press conference that a moratorium on death penalty was encouraging terrorists and had limited counter-terrorism actions in the country.
Maulana Haidri, who is Minister of State for Postal Services, had said that the state had no right to suspend the death penalty.
“Only a victim’s kin has the right to pardon the killer with or without taking compensation. This is an Islamic way of justice and being an ideological state Pakistan should have Islamic laws,” he had said.
Take a look: JUI-F criticises death penalty moratorium
The JUI-F leader had also said terrorists did not fear the writ of law only because the punishment for heinous crimes like murder and terrorism was practically negligible.
Pakistan has reportedly one of the largest death row populations in the world with more than 8,000 prisoners sentenced to death. Some 150 countries have abolished the death penalty or no longer carry out executions.
Pakistan's moratorium drew praise because of concerns its courts and police were too inept to ensure the accused a fair trial. However, a convicted murderer and a former army serviceman was executed in 2012.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (113) Closed
Dec 17, 2014 01:11pm
Very good, this should have been done long ago.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:12pm
Good decision.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:12pm
better late then never,,, brave deceision
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Dec 17, 2014 01:13pm
All terrorist held must be hanged publicly without any judicial trial. They are 3000 held as per the statement of Army spokesman yesterday
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Dec 17, 2014 01:13pm
Excellent news. Thats the way forward.Strict actions against the criminals.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:14pm
We shall not forget this day, we shall never forget this day. This feels personal now. No excuses, no apologies. Killing this menace should be the only priority.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:15pm
Bravo! Thank you. Please extend it to non-terrorists too. Please carry out executions in next couple of months.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:15pm
Good.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:16pm
Appreciates the decision taken by PM.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:16pm
Commendable act of PAK government.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:16pm
No human can slaughter children. Children are gods gift to mankind. Those slaughtering precious and innocent children are not humans, they are the devils in disguise, we should clear their very roots of existence. India and the whole world is together to fight terrorism.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:20pm
Please Mr. PM start punishing these criminals and make them a example. They must be trialed in special courts and handover an execution within a week!!
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Dec 17, 2014 01:21pm
Little late but right decision.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:22pm
Better late than never....though a belated move after sacrificing so many innocent lives...
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Dec 17, 2014 01:24pm
Good but need more
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Dec 17, 2014 01:25pm
The best decision by this government so far!
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Dec 17, 2014 01:26pm
Anxiously waiting for the first execution...
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Dec 17, 2014 01:26pm
Good decision. Now please let's make it happen. No more excuses. None.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:26pm
Appreciable !
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Dec 17, 2014 01:26pm
great
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Dec 17, 2014 01:29pm
Finally some good news. The deprived families might take a sigh of relief now.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:29pm
Finally, common sense used by someone somewhere.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:29pm
This is what is called decision as per the biggest desire of citizens by a leader for the people I just hope that these executions take place and soon the first batch of terrorists are hung publicly to show that we love our children
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Dec 17, 2014 01:30pm
Dair aa'ey Durust aa'ey.... Now please make decisions on time.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:31pm
At least done something right.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:31pm
Should have done earlier. This step is in right direction. It is never too late.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:31pm
It was one of the conditionalities of GSP+ it should not have been in place as this policy played havoc in past
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Dec 17, 2014 01:32pm
Now these terrorists should be executed without any delay.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:35pm
Now i demand to hanged all 300+ terriorist (They already got dead sentance) to be hanged on a single day and its give strong massage to the terrorist and the whole world is now with us and i want that in live telecast so that they also feel some pain.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:35pm
Good decision. Execute the insane terrorist.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:35pm
right decision..
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Dec 17, 2014 01:38pm
But before capturing them and giving them trial kill those terrorist who unleashed terror of this magnitude which is unimaginable unpardonable kill them nuke them finish them crush them for bringing so much pain tears which will never be relieved never healed....
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Dec 17, 2014 01:40pm
Is this going to solve N Wazirstan problem?
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Dec 17, 2014 01:41pm
Now hang atleast 141 terrorist held in jails this week. No need to feed these snakes in jails on public tax money
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Dec 17, 2014 01:44pm
it should be only for terrorists and the cases from rarest-of-rare cases only.. otherwise there will be misuse of such laws for political gains.. by the way death row doesnt abolish the crime as criminal is out of his mind while indulging in the crime.. so education only will help to abolish the crime.. and there is no short cut for this.. somebody tell me what kind of law can stop suicide bombers ???
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Dec 17, 2014 01:47pm
"the punishment for heinous crimes like murder and terrorism was practically negligible" - who stopped you from legislation.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:49pm
It is really disappointing Mr. Nawaz Sharif that if took the lives of 140 kids,adults & so many others who got killed in different terrorist incidents over the years for you to decide that moratorium on death penalty on should be abolished.
I want to ask what is the point in keeping those 100 plus dangerous terrorists in Karachi jail & thousands other across the country when they have been declared guilty of intolerable terrorist activities?.
As a citizen of this country, I want to ask as to why Mr. Nawaz sharif & other political party chiefs are so reluctant to even take the name of TTP in any of their statements made to condemn this attack?.
Death will reach each of us no matter how much protocol we are carrying while travelling or staying in this world dear leaders. Come forward & speak the truth.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:50pm
There ought to be harsh anti terrorism laws in place with special judges/courts, and quick trials in place. It being a relevantly new phenomena in Pakistan, its defense, security and law enforcement agencies must be on the same page. These heartless, mad people should have all the force of the law to deal with - there is absolutely no justification for killing innocent lives, whether children, minorities, police and armed forces officers, and the loss of resources. Indeed all those presently in jail should be made an example of, quick trials and hangings.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:51pm
Bravo, Bold step, InshAllah enemy will revise its decisions...
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Dec 17, 2014 01:53pm
Excellent decision Nawaz Sharif. Now go all the way. Do not stop with this tragedy alone. Go with the decision through and through, come what may.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:54pm
Not an easy but PM has made right decision.
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Dec 17, 2014 01:55pm
Right decision by PM.Although I never voted for him, but I still think that Nawaz Shareef has courage to take tough decisions.previously nuclear testing and now this .Brave man!!!
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Dec 17, 2014 01:57pm
PM said, "Addressing an All Parties Conference (APC) in Peshawar, the premier announced that the moratorium on death penalty, which was imposed under international pressure, has been lifted."
can we anything on our own?
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Dec 17, 2014 02:03pm
Very good decision. But point is that moratorium on death penalty was imposed on international pressure. do you know why? Agents of international spy agencies are involved in terrorism in Pakistan and this moratorium is only for sake of their security. No one will be hanged, you see moratorium will be again imposed.
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Dec 17, 2014 02:04pm
Good! Let them know they can't murder people and get away with it.
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Dec 17, 2014 02:07pm
i hope it doesn't take another 10 years to implement this
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Dec 17, 2014 02:09pm
Thnx God..mr shareef has finally got courage to implement rule of law
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Dec 17, 2014 02:11pm
Someone please tell me why the Minister of State for Postal Services is making remarks about affairs that dont fall under his jurisdiction or concern? Pray tell? I support the lifting of the ban. Time to ruthlessly hang and humiliate these terrorists. The best way to avenge the loss of Pakistani casualties of this war would be to kill those who want to destroy Pakistan and take us 1,000 years back. Enough is enough!!
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Dec 17, 2014 02:11pm
Let's see if they have the guts to put Mumtaz Qadri on death row. I bet it will never happen. The first one to protest against his execution will b JUI-F, followed by their brethren in crime.
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Dec 17, 2014 02:19pm
Thank you PM Nawaz Sharif ....Great and splendid decision from your end! now the time comes when justice is for every deprived families.
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Dec 17, 2014 02:23pm
This decision is good for now to hang the terrorists, but if death penalty remains, the corrupt police and courts will be hanging people by the day, innoncent or not, the death penalty should only be allowed for all the terrorists currently in jail and the ones being caught, not for the public
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Dec 17, 2014 02:23pm
@sameer Totally Agreed
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Dec 17, 2014 02:24pm
This is very good decision by the government however its used to curb the terrorism and other serious crimes ... countries like KSA and Dubai is the best example, because criminals know, they can not escape from Dubai's law is they commit a crime ... This is the time to implement the law and order with its full implementation without discrimination ... We should have free and fair trial of criminals .. We can overcome the street crimes as well ...
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Dec 17, 2014 02:28pm
First decision of PM which I will appreciate. This should have been done long ago. Shame on Zardari for stopping it in the first place.
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Dec 17, 2014 02:28pm
First decision of PM which I will appreciate. This should have been done long ago. Shame on Zardari for stopping it in the first place.
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Dec 17, 2014 02:28pm
Pakistan government should start executing the guilty ones as soon as possible according to the law and save the whole nation as well as the country.
And then let the justice prevail whatever needs doing to establish peace and security.
Pakistani Mullahs should stand up against the murderers and do their bit to bring sanity.
The should go and meet the Talibans one by one and show them the right path. So that we all human beings created by Allah live peacefully and discover wonders of His creation.
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Dec 17, 2014 02:30pm
@Raju This should have been done long time ago. Why was moratorium placed in first place?
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Dec 17, 2014 02:31pm
@Iqbal Very well said.
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Dec 17, 2014 02:31pm
Congratulations!
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Dec 17, 2014 02:33pm
good decision by PM , live long our PM
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Dec 17, 2014 02:35pm
There are rare incidents when capital punishments is justified and terrorism against the nation may be one of them.
But please abolish this for blasphemous cases in view of foolproof (human incompetence, errors, misuse and absence of appropriate checks and balances) judicial system.
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Dec 17, 2014 02:38pm
Congratulations. That was a leader do.
International pressure (define International). Every single country allows death penalty nowadays.
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Dec 17, 2014 02:39pm
Good Step, they should be make example in the centre of the bazar and roads.
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Dec 17, 2014 02:43pm
A courageous step taken by NS and he should also start implementing immediately further loss of time.
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Dec 17, 2014 02:45pm
Very bold and timely decision.
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Dec 17, 2014 02:59pm
I love my PM Nawaz Shareef. 1000 roses for your good decisions, Sir. I love my govt. whoever runs it. Please, keep working hard.
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Dec 17, 2014 02:59pm
I fully support this bold decision by the government. It will only be fruitful if implemented and executed quickly. Bravo PM
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Dec 17, 2014 03:08pm
Qadam bhrao Nawaz Sharif, hum tumhare saath hein
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Dec 17, 2014 03:09pm
Awesome and timely decision. This penalty should not have been revoked in first place. Forget about what the west says. If you had only listened to what Allah the Almighty said much could have been avoided. Do not invite the wrath of God, extend this penalty to non-terrorism related other crimes (murder in the of sectarianism, honor, politics, theory of necessity etc, murder to obtain financial gains). And don't forget those who commit social and religious crimes of blasphemy (after ensuring fair trial)...
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Dec 17, 2014 03:15pm
We want implementation NOW!
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Dec 17, 2014 03:29pm
Good decision Mr. Nawaz Sharif today I really feel that you are our Prime Minister
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Dec 17, 2014 03:38pm
I am from India.I am surprised that there was a moratorium for death penalty for homicide, even if related to terrorism but there is death penalty in the Law for certain offenses connected with religion.But I am afraid even execution won't deter the suicide bombers( as many commentators ask for). Obviously they are prepared to die and in fact seems to crave it.It is their mind set,beliefs and orientation that are the problem.The murder of Mr.Salman Taseer comes to mind now.
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Dec 17, 2014 03:43pm
this should have been done long ago. Pakistan needs the deterrence effect that capital punishment brings. Our society is not developed enough to suspend this currently, I would like to see this removed for a time period say 10 years.
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Dec 17, 2014 03:44pm
@rahul1 at least a strong message will be communicated
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Dec 17, 2014 03:50pm
@Farooq khan your support will be required by Nawaz sharif and government. your struggle to let sense prevail in the landscape will bear fruit. keep it on. thanks for the genuine support
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Dec 17, 2014 04:14pm
Now name and shame those countries and the champion of human rights who have been putting pressure on Pakistan not to hang these blood thirsty animals?
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Dec 17, 2014 04:18pm
Change the law alll the So called TALABAN should be tried in a military court and decision should be taken within 30 days of their trial. Tell the EUROPEAN UNION this is how we are going to handle our affairs, don't tell us what to do.
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Dec 17, 2014 04:20pm
But who's gonna protect the ordinary man from revenge attacks they are poor and don't have security or bullet proof cars?
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Dec 17, 2014 04:27pm
It took the deaths of some 150 CHILDREN to make these inept leaders do the right thing........ an incident of this magnitude should force the Prime minister to step down....that is if he has a conscience.
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Dec 17, 2014 04:45pm
This is great... Thank you Nawaz Sharif for this brave decision. May Allah encourage you stand with this decision. Terrorists must be punished for their crimes against humanity. Hang them all in the next couple of days... they are killers of my children and innocent people of Pakistan. Only with proper implementation of Islamic punishments we can improve security situation in the country. You must, you must, you must not accept any pressure from any side or any country whether it is economic pressure or human rights pressure. By pressurizing Pakistan to avoid death penalty they are supporting terrorism in our country. We must save our children our forces our innocent people from these terrorists and bring them to justice. Our judiciary must also work effectively to punish these enemies of the country and Islam. They are not human, they are animals, even animals don't kill their cubs.. they are worse than animals. Please save my kids, my children, my Pakistan... Allah Almighty help us to eliminate these beasts. What picture of Islam you are showing to the world, will they not hate Islam, Pakistan for these type of tragic events... what service you providing to Islam by killing innocent children.
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Dec 17, 2014 04:49pm
Very brave decision at a right time.Atleast the blood of inosent children do not ruin.
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Dec 17, 2014 04:51pm
I am a intensive critics of Nawaz Sharif,s policies and priorities but this is the time for unification and it is wonderful decision and outstanding thinking by PM.
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Dec 17, 2014 05:12pm
there is no justice without punishment.
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Dec 17, 2014 05:21pm
It has taken the Peshawar school tragedy to at last force the government into action - to withdraw the moratorium on implementation of the death penalty. The state authority appeared seriously compromised when condemned terrorists could not be hanged even after the death penalty had been awarded after due process of law. The sacrifice of the innocent victims of the carnage may not go in vain.
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Dec 17, 2014 05:53pm
Seeing is believing! want to see a quick implementation on terrorists already awarded death sentences!!!!1
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Dec 17, 2014 06:11pm
So that means Governor Taseer's murderer Qadri will finally get punished. Anyone objecting to his punishment should be prosecuted as an accessory to the murder.
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Dec 17, 2014 06:23pm
Brave decision Mr. Premier.
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Dec 17, 2014 06:40pm
An outstanding move by Government. If guilty hang them high, absolutely NO MERCEY.
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Dec 17, 2014 07:04pm
With an apology to HR activists, not only death penalty but there should be speedy trial courts all over the country to deal with terrorists so that justice is not delayed.
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Dec 17, 2014 07:16pm
Need deep investigation by intelligence agencies. A deep conspiracy to fuel the internal fighting.
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Dec 17, 2014 07:17pm
I agree 100% with this decision.
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Dec 17, 2014 07:24pm
Execution should be public for so these animals can be deterred.
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Dec 17, 2014 07:41pm
prove it
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Dec 17, 2014 07:43pm
I wait to hear when we hang Qadri. That will send a strong message to everyone.
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Dec 17, 2014 07:47pm
Hang them as soon as possible .
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Dec 17, 2014 08:25pm
Very good .They should be hanged in public every day till the end.They deserve no sympathy.They will be punished here and here after.
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Dec 17, 2014 08:30pm
Yayyy
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Dec 17, 2014 08:33pm
Also this decision is not timely. It has come too later for the children killed yesterday, it has come late for too many families.
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Dec 17, 2014 08:57pm
First good decision by NS. Time to start hanging Taliban terrorists.
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Dec 17, 2014 09:36pm
Step in the direction, now star implementation immediately to show terrorist than we are serious.
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Dec 17, 2014 10:22pm
Hang Mumbai Qadri and tht stupid all masjid maulvi first!
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Dec 17, 2014 10:23pm
'ki meray marnay kay ba'ad usnay jafa'a sau toba'
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Dec 17, 2014 10:48pm
The already convicted and sentenced to hang, in all cities, should be the start. The TTP to be top the opening ceremony.
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Dec 17, 2014 10:48pm
these executions should be carried out in public
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Dec 17, 2014 10:56pm
Mr PM I applaud you for this brave action.Now the torch bearers of so called Western values and officials of human rights watch will be calling you to rethink but remember you are dealing with people who don't know humanity and they are a cancer on the body of Islam.Pakistan has enough criminal Taliban on deth row.They should all be executed in next 48 hours,at lease one for each child killed in Peshawar.And there are some Mullah looking beasts in the country with foreign strings,ignore them and show some back bone.Good Luck.
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Dec 17, 2014 11:46pm
To show some justice to the poor souls, these extremist should be hanged in front of the school where the same people slaughtered the innocent lives , along with the mastermind ,who ordered this heinous crime.
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Dec 18, 2014 12:11am
@Aramis Life
The trial is a must otherwise this will open a new door of corruption.
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Dec 18, 2014 12:39am
@Aramis Life We are better humans. So we should be kind even to our enemies.that whats makes us strong .
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Dec 18, 2014 07:51am
What a jok, why praising this pm nawaz, he has decided after killing of 55000 pakistani, is this fair. Zardari is responsible for holding this issue and supporting terrorists. It is army pressure what pm is doing. It was army school.
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Dec 18, 2014 08:01am
The convicted Taliban terrorists must be hanged without any further delay.
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Dec 18, 2014 10:00am
Do we think these TTP folks are going to be scared of death penalty? Probably not, when someone is ready to blow himself, death penalty is just another option to die. What could have been a better approach is to take a systematic approach to root out this kind of insurgency. Cut down the financial sources to these organizations. Wait a sec, can we trace financial source to these organizations? Probably not again, we have corrupt leaders whose assets our departments have not bee able to trace. As long as we have corrupt leaders, who make black money, we will never be able to get over this barbaric terrorism. First decide who is our enemy...!!
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Dec 18, 2014 11:50am
What? Just hanging till death? For them, this would be just equal to suicide bombing which they are not afraid of. These should not be just hanged till death they should be tortured like they do to our people, they should also suffer from pain and ask for death, they should be afraid of punishment. They killed our innocent children, women and now they are just getting hanged? We demand for sever punishment so others can learn from. We demand to cut their hands, legs and tongue or something more brutal no matter what NGOs say, no human rights, no NGOs just brutal punishment for them because hanging till death is nothing for these killers. Might I was allowed to abuse these ......
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Dec 19, 2014 12:47am
We also know who pressured you to take this blunt decision.
Salute to the COAS!
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