‘Hanging won’t absolve govt of hard decisions’
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LAHORE: Rights activist and former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association Asma Jahangir says hanging of a few convicts will not absolve the government of taking some hard policy decisions on the security paradigm or to revamp the criminal justice system.
In a statement issued on Friday, she said the government decision to execute prisoners who were awarded death penalty for terrorism could well be understood under the present circumstances where emotions were high and there was anger against terrorists. However, she said, such a measure was simply sidetracking the issue.
Also read: Death for terrorism
“Terrorism does not disappear with revenge tactics but through making justice and equality before law a reality,” she added.
Ms Jahangir said that in the past, the knee-jerk reaction to terrorism had been to pass harsh laws, giving security forces a free hand to eliminate or arrest anyone on suspicion of being a terrorist. This practice only eroded legal protection, she said.
She stated the powerful walked away free after murder while the vulnerable could easily get death under the weak judicial system. She believed the policy makers should take the recent tragedy as a warning to eruption of more violence and wisely devise strategies that would reduce terror attacks.
Published in Dawn December 20th , 2014
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Comments (132) Closed
Dec 20, 2014 06:42am
Ms Asma Jahangir, Please stay out.......We love u as a human rights activist but this isnt the right time... Let the people do what needs to be done...... please take a vacation for a few months till we could recover from this.....
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Dec 20, 2014 06:51am
For once, I agree with her.
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Dec 20, 2014 06:51am
Absolutely correct
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Dec 20, 2014 07:00am
She is absolutely right!
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Dec 20, 2014 07:02am
Agree with Ms Jehangir completely. Government needs to make some tough decisions. Closing /regulating madressahs, education, poverty, unemployment need to be addressed on priority basis. Unfortunately, our governments have been so weak and corrupt that their only priority is either looting or saving their power at any cost. They can't stand up against Mullahs internally and foreign powers externally.
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Dec 20, 2014 07:04am
I want to salute this lady.
never backs down.
some people just have it in them to face it
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Dec 20, 2014 07:09am
Innocents should not be punished for crime they never committed. Otherwise, it will be a repetition of the innocents end up in the Guantanamo bay detention centers because the crooked rounded up innocents and collected the rewards. .
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Dec 20, 2014 07:31am
rule of law must stand but i guess every country does what it sees fit for their immeidate needs. US and Pakistan are no different.
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Dec 20, 2014 07:41am
its Constitutional Right of Pakistan Citizen to get Bail
India Concern is Political Motivated if u Look what they are doing in Afghanistan
What India Did in Past at Sri Lanka for Tamil Tigers who was supporting Terrorist First have to Look
to own Backyard
Tamil were getting Weapons Not from Sky but were Clear movements from Tamil Nadu
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Dec 20, 2014 07:52am
First time, I m agree with her
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Dec 20, 2014 07:55am
Madam Jahangir, this IS justice. Swift justice, which was missing. This is not a reaction, but is the long awaited improved and sustained justice system that you and we the nation have been demanding. "Justice delayed is justice denied". Any one talking against the current measures being taken by the Govt and Military has displaced loyalties.
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Dec 20, 2014 07:57am
Totally agree!
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Dec 20, 2014 07:57am
I used to be a huge fan of this brave lady and still respect her and admire her. However, the executions are lawful and of convicted terrorists so her statement about that is purely political especially given the fact that the stay in executions was for appeasement of the west as well as the militants. Her comment about draconian laws is valid but she should wait until such laws are passed and challenge their legality at the proper forum. If such laws already exist she should be fighting them through proper channels. Once more, Ms Jehangir is one of the heroes of Pakistan and a role model for myself and my children and she should keep voicing her concerns but I think the hanging of convicted murderers is not revenge but justice finally served.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:01am
Closing down madrassas and going after the friends with terrorists is crucially important in this war against the enemies of Pakistan.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:02am
It should be insured that innocent citizens should not be mistreated in the name of security. We dont want a CIA type treatment of our people.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:03am
She says, "Terrorism does not disappear with revenge tactics but through making justice and equality before law a reality,”...tell me Ms. Jehangir, how would you convince a group that does not recognize the state, wants the state to live by its rules, does not accept education or equality for women and only understands the language of violence...It is neither asking for justice nor for equality...it is asking the rest of the nation to surrender....
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Dec 20, 2014 08:04am
@khan what exactly she is saying? Was the death punishment justified or not? She should be loud and clear.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:04am
She stated the powerful walked away free after murder while the vulnerable could easily get death under the weak judicial system. so She is saying that Dr. Usman Arshad Mehmood was Vulnerable.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:09am
Asma Jahangir: This is not business as normal, these terrorists have gone too far, they are killing our children so do not try to interfere and work with the government and armed forces, this is your ONLY choice.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:10am
@AXH Me too.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:14am
Asma is right for having justice, However the criminals of ideology and action must never feel the liberty to take the revenge.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:19am
@Muhammad I totally agree with you sir. Our history syllabus also needs a complete overhaul. Words like jihad, haven and good Muslim also needs a batter explanation.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:20am
What does she plead and for whom as she expressed her reservation against the hanging of convicts as she observed the decision taken by the Government amounts to sideline the issue. No mada let the condemned prisoners be eliminated first then we will think about the rest the Beasts.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:20am
I don't agree with Asma Jhangir to go easy on hanging the killers but at the same I agree with her that Law should be equal for every one in the country . Our Judiciary and Police agencies need complete overhaul and some laws e.g : Qasas,, blasphemy have to be changed.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:24am
@Zeeshan Good point. She is echoing the sentiments of UN Human Rights that actually opposed the executions and labelled them as "revenge". The true character of our government will be tested when the EU and UNHR would start to put pressure on Pak to halt the executions. Even with the first two executions of convicted terrorists has the desktop liberals beating their drums of human dignity etc.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:26am
Someone needs to send her pictures of terrorism's victims in Peshawar or elsewhere in the world. Or she just need to shut up for a while and let the government do its work. The country will not be rid of the evil of terrorism unless and until the terrorists and their apologists are eliminated. Full stop. She is diverting the attention. Terrorism is the most heinous form of human behavior and those who practice it must be eliminated from free nations.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:29am
Dont agree with her. These guys were supposed to be hanged 8 years ago according to the law of the land. If you delay justice, you deny justice!
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Dec 20, 2014 08:29am
She is some what correct on this issue . Governament must close down Jamia Hafsa and take control of Lal masjid from the Mafia . This is pure breeding ground for terrorists . About time NS show some courage and make good anti terror policy and implement them fast we lost decades !!!!
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Dec 20, 2014 08:30am
MS Jahangir has lost her mind. People who got hanged were hard core criminals & have finally met their fate. There should be absolutely NO mercy to those who commit crimes against humanity, especially against children & children. The Pakistani nation must unite to defeat this menace of terror.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:38am
This crackdown on the terrorists will prove a good advertisement from the government that it is putting efforts to curb terrorism.To get rid of this menace we need institutionalized efforts.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:43am
these human right activists must first stand for aafia siddiqi before camouflaging the convicted terrorists who have killed hundreds of innocents.
I wish she would be the mother of those children who died in peshawar attack
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Dec 20, 2014 08:45am
Jahangir says, "such a measure was simply sidetracking the issue."
There are no two opinion that justice system is weak and needs to be improved, yet hanging is the part of solution instead of sidetracking the issue.
Look at CIA fresh report how they dealt with terrorists. Look at Sri Lankans how they eradicated terrorism. Study how Germany and Italy handled such circumstances in the past.
What looks good on paper might not be good in practice. We must precisely define the terrorism act, do more legislation and set up special army courts for it. After all those who died innocently have 'human rights' too.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:46am
She is right. The house needs a thorough cleaning. Draw a line between the state and religion.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:47am
BE CAREFUL. Don't spare any terrorist for a day on earth. BUT while 100 culprits may be let free for want of evidence, NOT a single INNOCENT must be harmed.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:54am
@Muhammad How could the government take action against Mullah? When Musharraf took action in Lal Masjid the whole nation was against him. Am I right?
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Dec 20, 2014 09:02am
Has this woman condemned the Peshawar massacre yet?
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Dec 20, 2014 09:05am
It appears that Asma Jhangir is back on her Human Rights bing, she is afraid to say it clearly but in fact she is opposing the death penalty. I am sure in few weeks she will be referring World Human Rights code and calling hanging a cruel and barbaric act. May be it is time for her to move to Oslo.
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Dec 20, 2014 09:08am
She is a true Pakistani and patriot. Very true and she is right about powerful walking away free. We need a strategy from our politicians who do not have respect form public.
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Dec 20, 2014 09:10am
She is part of the legal system, a system that fails to administer justice. Why is she telling us what should be done, be part of the solution, she should help cleanse the system.
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Dec 20, 2014 09:12am
Ms. Jehangir is a very brave woman. She is never backs down from saying the right thing no matter what the repurcussions. May Allah bless Pakistan with many more like her.
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Dec 20, 2014 09:22am
@Muhammad
I agree. Government too weak to do anything -- they are cowards.
Only solution to this problem is -------- ATLEAST for now -- army should control , fully , the law and order--- meaning rangers and police temporarily should be run by army ----- as of now police is only good for torturing and killing poor people or thousands of them guard few people only. And then their hands are tied as they have to listen to MPAs and MNAs etc.
if police is to report only to army-- I'm pretty sure things will be much better even for a common man.
For once they should act like real police rather than personal body guards.
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Dec 20, 2014 09:40am
Terrorists have to be dealt with an iron hand. But we should not be selective about rooting out terrorism. Till now, terrorists they are doing everything to destabilize India is being welcomed in Pakistan. This double standard will bite us back. It is us who nurtured the Taliban and the Frankenstein we created is hitting back. There is no good terrorists and bad terrorists. All terrorists are bad and needed to be dealt with firmly.
Second point is, hanging few terrorists are not a victory for us. Neither we should rejoice at their deaths or anyone else's death, however low level criminals they may be. They are executed according to the law, that is it.
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Dec 20, 2014 09:44am
Simultaneous equation is lacking. Punishment to be delivered those committed crime is the foremost component without any further delay. A pragmatic mechanism should be enforced to eradicate the followings ills. 1. to curb corruption inflicted in law enforcement and intelligence agencies which put culprits behind the bar 2. to control Mullahs' sermon filled with hatred and a curriculum to be enforced in Madressa and recruit teaching staff and educators on merit. 3. to remove curtain and exposed corrupt legislators and executive branch members and from government and judiciary.
It takes time to remove the cancer
to be put under microscope
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Dec 20, 2014 09:55am
Her statement is very counter productive hangings are desperately required at this time to punish the perpetrators of violence.
Life is in qasaas. Eye for an eye
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Dec 20, 2014 10:00am
This government can not even take actions against the Lal Mashjid, situated a few kilometers from the Parliament. And you expect this government to take hard decisions. Nawaz can not become Musharaff overnight.
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Dec 20, 2014 10:01am
Tough decisions would have to be taken...but meanwhile when we are deciding what the measures are we keep on hanging these people...
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Dec 20, 2014 10:02am
Asma is side tracking the issue.Pakistan needs no enemy in presence of such friends.
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Dec 20, 2014 10:08am
Human rights are for human beings who follow the laws of the land and norms of the religeon and not for beasts. These people have done heinous crimes against humanity, killed scores of innocent human beings and disrupted the whole country. They deserve the punishment what they get not only as per the country's laws but also as per "Sharia". Asma jahangir before becoming champion of human rights should think of 142 innocent children who were murdered brutally by these inhuman and wild terrorists.
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Dec 20, 2014 10:15am
Sadly there is no going back to the period before Zia for Pakistan. The ideology of most of Pakistanis will be perpetually frozen in time.
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Dec 20, 2014 10:23am
Strongly disagree!!! Those who committed killing innocent people present or past ,they have to go through all judicial procedures &if they found guilty Hanged him, person kill one or more people both are enemy of humanity so that Government &Military official doing right thing.......
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Dec 20, 2014 10:46am
We are the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. ... miss jahangir if you missed the country name i am sure u missed the ideological foundations of it too ... death penalty should be reinforced and policy decisions are always being developed by the govt they will not come out and announce it publicly for these outfits to prep themselves
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Dec 20, 2014 10:48am
I don't know why Pakistan has kept them alive since 2006 and increased the security and cost of expense on them for no use, If these executions would have taken place time by time then there must a different case and I think our DemoCRAZY Govt's are Pro Taliban since 2006 or they don't have anything in their hands to Order except to buy BMW and Helicoptors
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Dec 20, 2014 10:48am
too late. the horses have bolted.
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Dec 20, 2014 10:49am
@AXH
Ms. Asma Jehangir is absolutely right.
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Dec 20, 2014 10:49am
Very true.
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Dec 20, 2014 10:50am
Ms Asma Jahangir is correct. Pakistan needs justice and equality without which terrorism will not finish. There should be justice with Tribal people too. Army cannot just wipe out people of tribal areas and occupy mountains.If they are treated with respect and equality terrorism will finish automatically. But that is what Sharif's don't what.
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Dec 20, 2014 10:52am
sane.
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Dec 20, 2014 10:57am
capital punishment is the worst violation of human rights, because the right to life is the most important, and judicial execution violates it without necessity and inflicts to the condemned a psychological torture
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Dec 20, 2014 11:14am
Madam please don't put all the blame on government. In The degradation of the justice system in Pakistan legal community and the judicary is equally responsible.
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Dec 20, 2014 11:20am
@Amjad Wyne Justice and equality will exhaust the TTP's supply of deprived young men who are willing to blow themselves up for a little bit of money.
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Dec 20, 2014 11:22am
Powerful (Shah Rukh Jatoi) walked away after killing Shahzeb Khan.
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Dec 20, 2014 11:25am
For once I have to agree with Asma. Hanging is part of the problem. Justice for any kind of extremism is what is required. Govt cannot absolve itself from many other issues: jD, st, lal masjid are all seriios threats
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Dec 20, 2014 11:26am
Do she have children or grand children?
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Dec 20, 2014 11:30am
I agree with her on this.
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Dec 20, 2014 11:31am
Asma would have been right had we been living in an ideal world.
She needs to be a realist instead of a bleeding liberal.
The people who are slated for executions have had their day in court and have been found guilty . Now, they need to face the consequences of their actions.
Hang them high !
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Dec 20, 2014 11:34am
Terrorist always portray wrong islam. This doesnt mean we cannot implement islam in the right manner. According to islam, they have to be given death penalty
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Dec 20, 2014 11:35am
I agree with her statement
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Dec 20, 2014 11:38am
hanging people responsible for killing innocent people is justice! the so called LAW of Pakistan waited a decade to act on it but this IS JUSTICE!
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Dec 20, 2014 11:41am
Social development and punishment both need to be run side by side. Hang all the killers, no mercy. Let the terror out of law enforcing agencies. They will better perform and easily confront this evil.
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Dec 20, 2014 11:41am
I think we cannot call terrorists humans. Therefore they don’t have rights. So, Ms. Jahangir should not advocate about their rights. Terrorists should be punished severely. No mercy at all.
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Dec 20, 2014 11:50am
She's spot on, these hanging r merely 2 feed the ppl's anger & to hush the real issues.salute to braveheart lady
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Dec 20, 2014 12:02pm
Yes i think we are paying to much attention to these death penalities. This alone will not solve the issue. This has not much significance in this war. Its like we are trying to say that we will hang you to a person who already comes to die.
Need more measures in this war. Strikes, action against them is just 1 part of it. Need to improve intl incities, need to eliminate the support system, handelers, and also need to addresss the people who try to justify or give then moral support by talking .
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Dec 20, 2014 12:06pm
Sensible human being. Be safe, madam.
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Dec 20, 2014 12:16pm
Absolutely correct this is the time to make/amend laws and enforce them. A terrorist has to get terroristc treatment without loss of time. It is now or never.
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Dec 20, 2014 12:16pm
Ms. Asma Jahangir, you remained President of SC bar, what you did to improve the quality of Advocacy in Pakistan. There is no denying the truth, that weakness in the judicial system is for the reason that Advocates in Pakistan lack professionalism. Instead of assisting the courts of law, as Officers of the Courts, majority of them mint money by dragging on with the cases, instead of speedy decisions and trials by the courts. It is easy to say than doing something practically.
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Dec 20, 2014 12:18pm
We have Zarn e Azb for that Ms Asma. If only Afghans would allow PAF to conduct clean sweep action in Afghanistan (FazlUllah).
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Dec 20, 2014 12:21pm
Since Miz Jhangir represents actually that part of Pakistan that is actually the root of all corruption in Pakistan we should take her word seriously. The Crows are after all the guardians of the legal and judicial system that has forever failed to deliver justice.
So all Taliban and Taliban sympathizers must suffer a fate worse than death. They should be led to the hanging chamber with out the knowledge that when they drop through the trapdoor it will not be to their death by hanging, but into the gaping jaws of Asma jhangir, as she waits below the platform to deliver that one final blowjob of utter humiliation that will turn the Taliban cause on its heels and force these hardened terrorists to give up their evil cause, all while protecting human rights and dignity.
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Dec 20, 2014 12:25pm
Shame on all those who call the belated hangings of condemned terrorists/murderers as revenge tactics. If sons and daughters of such heartless persons were among the victims of Peshawar school carnage, then would they still hold on to the same opinion? The innocent victims are being mourned by the entire nation as a personal loss. It appears that some persons still hold on to the view that only terrorists/murderers have human rights. Again, shame on such persons.
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Dec 20, 2014 12:32pm
I agree with Ms Jehangir on this.
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Dec 20, 2014 12:46pm
@Taimur What she is saying is, military action alone is not the solution. What needs to be done is much more. Take a hard look at what is being taught in Schools , Madrassas, Funding of these groups etc. Pakisthan has to undo what Zia ul Haq did to the country to take it to the road of peace, progress and prosperity.
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Dec 20, 2014 12:46pm
i agree with her. however the execution should and must be carried out. perhaps if the terrorist would have been executed earlier just may be those innocent children and many other peoole would have been alive.
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Dec 20, 2014 12:48pm
@qaisar
You have said it too politely.
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Dec 20, 2014 12:51pm
@Amjad Wyne - Then you must think how come they have become like that.
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Dec 20, 2014 12:55pm
I respect you as a human right activist/supporter but please don't discourage hanging of serial killers of innocent people. Yes, of course government must take hard policy decisions on the national security or to revamp the criminal justice system.
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Dec 20, 2014 12:57pm
I dont think a sensible, rational and pragmatic voice like her's would be heard in Pakistan.
Terrorism in Pakistan is not a law-and-order problem that harsh laws could solve it. Then, its not the harshness of the punishment, but the surety of punishment that deters criminals.
Terrorism in Pakistan is a security and military issue, only as a side-effect. So armed operations alone wont solve it.
Its not even a political issue that political parties can do something about it.
Terrorism in pakistan is a social, economic, ideological and cultural issue. Then of course, absence of justice makes it worst.
Pakistan needs to take deeper and long-term measures. Violence breeds more violence, and hatred breeds only hatred.
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Dec 20, 2014 01:04pm
I completely agree with Ms Jhangir but I thing this is not the right time to raise human right issue.
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Dec 20, 2014 01:05pm
@Abbas Ali
This is the perception held by the majority of Pakistanis. You have conveyed their sentiments very aptly.
Ms.Asma Jehangir is a former President of Supreme Court Bar Association. Can she tell us of any tangible achievement in her tenure to expedite the finalization of numerous cases pending in courts for many, many years?
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Dec 20, 2014 01:25pm
Agree with Asma and also salute her steadfastness in every situation.
Secondly, we need 2 pronged strategy. Short term for quick fixes, which our government and establishment is already taking, and long term to eradicate this menace from roots-it include purging society from extremist mindset by changing education system, legislation, closing down hate outlets etc. But people at the helm of affairs take cosmetic measures to calm down public and gain time and then forget about long term strategy of eradicating it from roots.
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Dec 20, 2014 01:32pm
Naturally, I respect Ms Jehangir for her stand and sacrifices but I fear she is in error in putting the cart of 'justice and equality' before the horse of defeating terrorism. It is the universal experience that justice and equality begin to take root ONLY after terrorists are defeated and are wiped out or come to the negotiation table after admitting defeat. Northern Ireland is the latest case in point. After the main source of IRA's funds, the USA put restrictions on the collection of funds and under pressure from the British Government, the IRA sent a clear message that acknowledged that no further armed struggle, negotiations made rapid progress under a US mediator. Since then the IRA has been in the Northern Ireland government and its political fortunes have also improved in Ireland. It is incumbent on all sane Pakistanis including the 'mildly left leaning' individuals to trust General Raheel fully, let him defeat terrorists and THEN demand uplift measures for the poor and downtrodden.
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Dec 20, 2014 01:33pm
Alas you have never known motherhood it seems. Had you last a son or daughter in that school you would never have made this statement.
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Dec 20, 2014 01:54pm
I am surprised to read her statement "Terrorism does not disappear with revenge tactics" executing known terrorists after completing / exhausting all legal requirements is revenge ? I fail to understand what she wants to say ? Any how all sane persons will support her demand with regard to strengthening of legal system to curb the terrorism
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Dec 20, 2014 01:58pm
Very well said. Government is side tracking the issue and terrorism is not going any where any time soon.
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Dec 20, 2014 02:30pm
I can't believe such sane voice would be of hers.
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Dec 20, 2014 02:31pm
@Ganga Din
Journey of thousand miles starts with the first step. This is the first real step taken by the government - albeit much belated. It cannot be termed revenge tactics as stated by Ms. Asma Jehangir.
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Dec 20, 2014 02:33pm
I agree with Asma Jahangir... upto a point. However, death sentences should be given as they are a payment for the crime.
We need accountability & justice & death sentences are justice too!
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Dec 20, 2014 02:48pm
I don't think she is talking rocket science or some kind of prophecy. Terrorism will be eradicated thru making some hard decisions and taking some bold steps. This lady is out to look cute for the anti-death-penalty community and not mentioning what made Pakistan to take this U-turn. I would like to hear and see what good is she doing right now for this saddened nation.
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Dec 20, 2014 02:53pm
Madam don't creat confusion in big decisions of army u r not so aware of ground realities what these terrorists planned, in ur view Qari Mumtaz shld not be hanged who shoot Gov.Salman Taseer openly, it may be justice or unjustice . Had this bold step taken earlier we could have avoid so many tragedies like Peshawer. Don't pose that u r always right.
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Dec 20, 2014 03:07pm
She's completely right. That's what I also fear.
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Dec 20, 2014 03:14pm
Iron Lady of Pakistan!!
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Dec 20, 2014 03:30pm
Why is it so that these activist are seen favouring people who are anti nation?
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Dec 20, 2014 03:38pm
It is difficult to follow human right activists always. They are always silient about the human rights of general public from militants.
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Dec 20, 2014 03:51pm
She is right
Much more needs to be done.
She didn't imply that executions are bad.
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Dec 20, 2014 03:56pm
@Muhammad I do not agree because if you take tough decisions and close down madressahs, education, poverty then again Asma Jahangir will say its a violation of Human rights. I want first all these terrorist or enemy of Pakistan be wiped out by military sumary courts and when once things cool down then we can talk of human rights, otherwise carrots and stick policy will never work and will destroy Pakistan. I think civil government is impotent they can do anything , they can't stand up against Mullahs internally and foreign powers externally. I will suggest Military general to take charge of the country clean up the mess and restart the game again.
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Dec 20, 2014 04:13pm
@ziavrep labqi : That's correct but to complete the "journey of thousand miles", you need a sense of direction and a road map. Does Pakistan Military or government establishment have that? One would think that after Karachi, some constructive measures would have been taken to avoid Wahgah and Peshawar. What was this huge intelligence network doing? We really need to put aside emotions and religion to tackle the problem. I would have appreciated the government if people in charge of intelligence agencies were fired after Karachi but nothing happened, why?
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Dec 20, 2014 04:24pm
@zainul abedin Dr Usma was not vulnerable but in the same system Nawaz sharif and shahbaz sharif can get away with 14 murders ..this is not justice ..a murders is a musrder no matter taliban do it or nawaz sharif
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Dec 20, 2014 04:28pm
@Mian Shahid Mehmood
I hope your views strike a sympathetic chord in the hearts of all those belonging to the legal fraternity - from the Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan to the lowliest paid person in Pakistan"s judicial system. They should all remember that ultimately every one has to appear before the most judicious court of them all - that of The Creator.
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Dec 20, 2014 04:29pm
I fully agree with her, we can't by pass law. We can't and we should hang some one under military court while we have civil courts. Yes, the law makers should devise a law that harmonize with international norms. This attack is not a win for terrorist, it is our failed policies and poorly served justice which brought us here.
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Dec 20, 2014 04:39pm
Terrorism is a choice of weak against powerful. If Pakistan has justice and equality terrorism will not flourish. What ever is happening in Pakistan is a result of injustice.
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Dec 20, 2014 04:41pm
Whoever struck down military court establishment initiative in supreme court must be punished in ATC. Madrassahsand maulvis should be scrutinised, monitored and regularised. No institution or person should be allowed to appoint or become maulvii maulana, sufi etc without certain educational and relevant credentials. Those who do not meet croteria should be arrested on charges of deception and fraud. All so called mosques where extremism is taught behind the scenes must be closed and people there should be arrested. Religious parties, sects shoudl be barred from politics. If nothing of this kind will be done, terrorists will continue with their games of horror. .
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Dec 20, 2014 04:47pm
@Ganga Din
The government or the military or both will prove by their actions in the next few days whether or not they are embarking on the journey of thousand miles with a clearly charted road map and well defined timelines.
Horrific and tragic incidents like the Peshawar school carnage serve as a watershed in the history of nations.
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Dec 20, 2014 04:58pm
For God sake, these individuals were already given death penalty. Stop interfering and stop telling justice system what to do.
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Dec 20, 2014 05:06pm
@Umair M
Legislators should seriously consider the prescription. But they first need to be jolted out of their sweet slumbers. Can the Peshawar school carnage spring them into real action other than blabbering rhetorics and raising empty slogans? Time will soon tell.
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Dec 20, 2014 05:12pm
@Faisal
Nicely put in a concise way.
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Dec 20, 2014 05:27pm
@AXH Disagree , this time I don't agree with her at all seeing what a respectless and lawless has been made out of Pakistan.
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Dec 20, 2014 05:33pm
Asma....wakeup and smell the humous......which Lala land are you living in?. Please don't confuse Terrorism with human rights!! and I agree you need to take a vacation on topic of Terrorism.
It is either NOW that the country can tackle this issue or it will be never.
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Dec 20, 2014 05:41pm
Judiciary lets Pakistan down and Pakistani courts and lawyers are the most corrupt people in the country. Police army arrests criminals’ terrorist and the lawyers let them go every time. My experience of Pakistan courts and justice is corruption from the type writer all the way to Judges.
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Dec 20, 2014 06:02pm
Very correct. 100% reality based statement
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Dec 20, 2014 06:10pm
Is killing 'blasphemists' not terrorism? When will the government execute Salman taseers killer?
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Dec 20, 2014 06:11pm
Weak system will get strong once we decide executing the penalty.Weak system cannot be made strong without executing the penalties.
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Dec 20, 2014 06:16pm
Your courts are corrupt Asma.
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Dec 20, 2014 06:17pm
Can not agree more with you madam . To confuse or defuse ( depends upon ! ) and thus sidetrack the issue , the formation of a committee to formulate a policy within 7 days ! has already been done ... The mantra of the politicians " if you do not want to confront head on with a problem , form a committee and we are too aware of what happens after that ......
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Dec 20, 2014 06:26pm
@qaisar revenge will make us barbarians as well. To ensure this heartwrenching tragedy never happens state need to change its policy of using religiosity as tool to run state. Separate religion from constitution, laws and education to bring equality and justice. Change mindset
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Dec 20, 2014 06:30pm
She is right. The pressure to catch the militants are high. Hope someone innocent doesn't get hanged just cause he can't afford to defend himself. Hope this incident doesn't make us as horrific as the Taliban's.
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Dec 20, 2014 06:32pm
Without effective and fast deterrent, people will continue to live in a state of lawlessness and fear. First please give "Right to Live" to peaceful citizen.
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Dec 20, 2014 06:43pm
sir, as islam is a religion of peace, so the political patronage to the militancy, feudalism, , inequality,orthodoxy, poverty, unemployment, weak judicial system, army state within state without any accountability, terrorism as instrument of foreign policy, frontline state of u.s.a, as per foster dallese gurkha of u.s.a army, over population , no family planning, non enforcement of shariat laws, these factors are breeding grounds for terrorism. unless these factors are attended,to, terrorism will continue to grow
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Dec 20, 2014 07:45pm
@aa
Military courts, whenever functional, are duly assisted by professional lawyers for fulfiling the basic requirements of law and justice. The notable difference is that the cases are not subjected to repeated and long adjournments and are, therefore, decided within a reasonable time.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:33pm
She stated the powerful walked away free after murder while the vulnerable could easily get death under the weak judicial system. She believed the policy makers should take the recent tragedy as a warning to eruption of more violence and wisely devise strategies that would reduce terror attack
as a lawyer, she is part of judicial system, or lack of it, in pakistan. lawyers become judges, lawyers become public prosecutors and lawyers become defence attorneys. supreme judicial council is also responsible for the functioning of courts in a just manner.
so, if mega criminals get away and petty criminals r punished, no one other than lawyers r to blame.
mega criminals have services of mega lawyers and those mega lawyers r so not much because of their competence but because of their links with judges (who in turn r the past colleagues the lawyers). state prosecutors r, by and large, incompetent lawyers.
so the onus of the failure of judiciary, as the learned lawyer has highlighted, is on lawyers
n by the way, where the lady was when whole pakistan was weeping for the murdered kids. seems that other than condemned criminals, madam seem not to care for rights of anyone else
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Dec 20, 2014 08:38pm
I am sorry Asma Jahangir, although you have tried to use much softer words to forward your point of view thinking that you are too wise to save your skin and at the same time save your bread and butter. This time nobody is ready to buy you, as you always fail to differentiate between rule of law in a normal society and needs of deterrence in a country with real war against terrorism. I have been hearing your lectures in different Academies since 1989; but always found an apathy in your soul for the people being subjected to worst human atrocities by the butchers like those in Peshawar. Thats why, it has not surprised me that you have failed to firmly stand by the families whose little flowers have been mercilessly mutilated; as ones of our likes, who feel them our own siblings. Moreover; you have not come forward with suggestions for the policy makes who are sitting with their heads down to draw a way forward. I urge you to revisit your thought process which is indicative of your fear of reprimand from the terrorists. I fail to understand as to how you have chosen to speak like this on this occasion, it would have been better to remain silent instead.
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Dec 20, 2014 09:17pm
It all boils down to nincompoop rulers and policy makers who don't follow Rule of Law. The laws also need revision to keep up with the threat to society. Ask ! Why Federal Interior Minister was not sacked for criminal negligence of protecting lives of citizen for last 1- 1/2 years. Just boot out all useless Heads of Intelligence agencies both Provincial & Federal.
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Dec 21, 2014 08:18am
Respected madam Asma you claim to to be human right activist for the last many decades. May I know any of your solid contributions in this field of your. you are absolutely silent on Peshawar tragedy. Probably the school had the name Army in it and this word triggers waves of hatred in you.
Apart from your sarcastic and satirical views on some TV shows with a set agenda, what have you done to improve this corrupt judiciary of which you were president of a bar association,
This is a war with the enemy within and the whole nation has to fight. The security forces have to be given extra powers. This happens everywhere in the world. What the generals did to this country was certainly wrong but. What your teachers and colleagues in the judiciary did to legitimise it was even worse. The developed world kill by electric chairs or injection- do we have a solution to this problem of our. Please put us wiser on this
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Dec 22, 2014 10:48am
madam asma is saying right that our judicial system is weak, govt should take steps to make it strong so that no one can save its skin from the law.
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Dec 22, 2014 11:01am
I partially agree with her.. that hanging terrorists will not serve the purpose, hanging them is the justice that the nation has been waiting for years. though this can be considered a very late justice which caused the death of innocent kids. But real responsibility of government is not to take this actions of hanging the perpetrators of killing but to take measures which will erode the terrorism from its roots from our country.
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