UN, EU’s calls to halt executions rejected
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ISLAMABAD: The government on Saturday rejected calls by the United Nations and the European Union to revive moratorium on execution of convicts, noting that capital punishment for terrorists did not violate international law.
“Pakistan respects the international community, but the country is passing through extraordinary circumstances, which demand extraordinary measures to be taken,” a government spokesman said while referring to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s conversation with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in which the UN chief called for halting executions.
The spokesman said that a “peaceful Pakistan is in the best interest of the world”.
Meanwhile, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said in a twitter posting: “Pakistan is cognisant of its obligations under UN Human Rights Conventions/Covenants. Execution of terrorists violates no international law.”
“The Secretary-General spoke on the phone with H.E. Mr Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, on 25 December 2014... While fully recognising the difficult circumstances, the Secretary-General urged the Government of Pakistan to stop the executions of convicts and re-impose the moratorium on the death penalty,” a statement from Mr Ban’s office had said.
Read: UN urges Pakistan to halt executions
Mr Sharif had during the conversation assured Mr Ban that all legal norms would be respected while handing down sentences to terrorists and during the execution of the sentences.
The government had earlier this week announced that it was setting up military courts for speedy prosecution of terrorism cases.
The government had lifted the moratorium on executions in the aftermath of Peshawar school carnage. So far six people, convicted of attacks on GHQ and former president Pervez Musharraf, have been executed.
Pakistan has some 8,000 death-row inmates awaiting execution. But the government says that moratorium has only been lifted in terrorism cases.
The number of those convicted in terrorism-related offences is about 170.
The European Union too had called for halting executions.
“We believe that the death penalty is not an effective tool in the fight against terrorism. The EU Delegation regrets the decision of the Government of Pakistan to lift the moratorium on executions, which had been in place since 2008,” a statement by the EU Delegation to Pakistan had said.
“The EU remains opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. We hope that the moratorium will be re-established at the earliest,” the EU statement had said.
Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2014
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Comments (70) Closed
Dec 28, 2014 07:32am
EU/UN please mind your own business don't pretend to be champions of Human Rights. Executing terrorists who took 50,000 lives is a violation of human rights to you?? Are you out of your mind??
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Dec 28, 2014 07:36am
Mind your own business!
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Dec 28, 2014 07:40am
If EU is too concerned then they should take all these terrorists and put them in European jails funded by European citizens tax money.
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Dec 28, 2014 07:45am
EU and UN please stay away from this as we are solving our internal issue after 20 years. Let go together to vanish these terrorists.
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Dec 28, 2014 07:52am
Please i request to our government that don't come under pressure of those powers who force us for bane. This is our country and we have right to live in peace and there are many terrorist who need to be punished according to our law. Once again we request to UN and European union don't interfere in Pakistan internal afire and layoff.
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Dec 28, 2014 07:52am
Well Done Pakistan. Executions MUST continue until all terrorist are eliminated.
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Dec 28, 2014 07:57am
THANK YOU, that is the way to go.
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Dec 28, 2014 08:00am
Pakistan can play a very important role and even may be nominated for "Nobel Peace Price". But Pakistan must play as an Honest Role. Pakistan can do whatever is necessary to control the problem, it is at War. Pakistan will get the Nobel Peace Prize for the Solution and its Creative work. No body can put any limits on Pakistan's Conduct.
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Dec 28, 2014 08:01am
Finally Pakistan is standing up to herself.
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Dec 28, 2014 08:03am
Good....for once it has shown it has a spine
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Dec 28, 2014 08:04am
Where was EU and UN , see some figures below
The following 21 countries are believed to have carried out executions in 2013: Afghanistan (2), Bangladesh (2), Botswana (1), China (1000+), India (1), Indonesia (5), Iran (369+), Iraq (169+), Japan (8), Kuwait (5), Malaysia (2+), Nigeria (4), North Korea (+), Palestine (3+), Saudi Arabia (79+), Somalia (34+), South Sudan (4+), Sudan (21+), USA (39), Vietnam (7+), Yemen (13+).[2]
Figure it out your self
UN, UN, back off
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Dec 28, 2014 08:05am
EU believes that death penalty is not an effective tool to fight against terrorism. Why did you go to war against Afghanistan and Iraq and "executed" or millions of their citizens?
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Dec 28, 2014 08:08am
Why don't they pay any attention to executions done in Saudi Arabia.So far 12 Pakistanis have been beheaded.
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Dec 28, 2014 08:19am
Great decision.
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Dec 28, 2014 08:21am
I fully support the government's decision on this. Desperate times require desperate measures. Saudi Arabia has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. Any clue?
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Dec 28, 2014 08:25am
I strongly feel that the world should leave Pakistan govt. alone and let them make decision about that country, rather than interfering. Pakistan govt. knows what is best for the country.
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Dec 28, 2014 08:39am
First stop Israel, who have killed thousands of freedom fighters.
Stop India, who have fought and killed so many freedom fighters.
Stop the U.S.A., who have tortured and/or kill so many people in the name of terrorist without knowing if there are terrorist and without using the U.S. court of law.
Pakistan has full right to kill those terrorists, who have terrorize our country and killed thousands of people including innocents school kids.
Only way to deter terrorism is to hang those real terrorists.
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Dec 28, 2014 08:43am
Where were these champions of human rights and why did they not speak when Dr. Afia was brutally treated in their jails, why do they not speak about millions of kashmiris and unarmed palestanians.
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Dec 28, 2014 08:50am
Lets get the correct DEFINITION of terrorist. There are 'suicide' bomber terrorists. There are kidnapping terrorists. There are inciting [mullah-type] terrorists, and their followers. BUT we never talk about economic or political terrorists; this category is at the ROOT of much of the violent 'terrorism' in the world. I say that economic terrorists [corruption would readily fall in this category] should be treated the same way as the 'violent' type of terrorists.
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Dec 28, 2014 08:53am
No. Pakistan govt. averts from its decision of execution of terrorist. They brings dangers in many dimension to Pakistan and it people and also degrades the image of Islam.
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Dec 28, 2014 08:57am
UN and EU cannot make up their mind what is right and wrong. They have attacked countries and killed millions to counter terrorism, but if a country is trying to curb terrorism in their own country, they are defending the terrorists.
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Dec 28, 2014 08:59am
Whilst one does not believe in capital punishment, in Pakistan these are exceptional circumstances and unpleasant measures had to be adopted coupled with the fact that none of the hard core prisoner has expressed remorse at the merciless killings that he indulged in the name of religion. It is the only reason perhaps that has opinion divided.
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Dec 28, 2014 09:04am
Thanks EU and UN . Please mind your own business and let us handle our problems our way for once !
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Dec 28, 2014 09:19am
we are in dire situation, by neglecting to take drastic steps not just to curtail terrorism but also to change general publc's mind set we have reached to a no turn position.
EU is welcome to take all of these who are guilty in their country
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Dec 28, 2014 09:22am
UN has awoken ?
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Dec 28, 2014 09:23am
They paid 1 billon to do this.right?
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Dec 28, 2014 09:29am
Good answer FO. No one should dictate us.
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Dec 28, 2014 09:41am
strange thing is that until now only 6 have been hanged, death warrants have been issued for 3 more i heard but for some reason there is a delay...
It should be noted that Nawaz Sharif is the one who will bear all the pressure domestic and foreign on this item. If he is a strong leader he should fully support his public and army.
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Dec 28, 2014 09:44am
Capital punishment must be continued irrespective of any cast creed, religion or political affiliation in Pakistan. It should be exemplary for other who will convict any heinous crime will face the same music.
Sorry for say, in Pakistan due weak policies, lack of good governance, poor law and order situation, corruption, favoritism and especially lack of government writ at center and Provinces create a space for militancy, extremism and target killings. take example of Karachi where, no body feels comfortable and all are insecure.
I am of opinion that if culprit punished according to law and none is consider above the law they you can prevail peace.
So please wake up Pakistan..... its time to unite and stand together and respected law otherwise we will be meshed out...
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Dec 28, 2014 09:50am
Glad to read in the column "His highness Mr. Mohammad Nawaz Sharif. A great title indeed?
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Dec 28, 2014 09:53am
Why don't they ask Saudi Arabia, U.S.A. and Iran the same where the rate of execution is far bigger and much wider than the Islamic Republic of Pakistan?
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Dec 28, 2014 09:54am
EU and UN are wrong in asking leniency for terrorists. These are the same countries that have sponsored terrorism in Syria. Pakistan should ignore there noise to save the country.
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Dec 28, 2014 10:09am
Pakistan can hold hanging terrorists if EU takes Terrorists on hanging list to their countries and make them honored citizen or put them in their jails.
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Dec 28, 2014 10:13am
UN and EU should mind their own business. Pakistan should execute all terrorists and murderers. Capital punishment is necessary where everyday you see a bomb blast or murder is nothing for public. Pakistan can't be compared with western standards where murder and bomb blast is once in a blue moon.
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Dec 28, 2014 10:17am
Why is the government so apologetic. We are an Islamic nation and our region is very clear about capital punishment. Secondly this is our country and we need laws in accordance to our own requirements.
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Dec 28, 2014 10:20am
It is irresponsible and discriminatory on the part of EU and UN to ask Pakistan to halt capital punishments knowing well that the country has been facing terrorism on a scale that no other nation has faced. Pakistan has lost tens of thousands of its citizen and is entitled to use any means to fight back. Many Western nations have emplaced some of the most harshest laws to resist terrorism. If its alright for these nations to kill a wasp with a cannon then Pakistan surely is justified to kill a charging beast with a rifle.
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Dec 28, 2014 10:27am
UN and EU if you are in favor of these terrorists, please take these to your country
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Dec 28, 2014 10:36am
It's important to kill the parasites evident to the naked eyes but most important is to destroy their nest.
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Dec 28, 2014 11:11am
Those countries that are objecting---Pakistan needs to remind them what they did 50 or a 100 years ago to the criminals to establish their foundations in becoming a civilized democratic state.
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Dec 28, 2014 11:11am
Good show, Government of Pakistan ! at least this time the government had the guts to denounce UN and EU call to ban execution in Pakistan. We must give credit to the government of Pakistan where it genuinely deserves. UN and EU should refrain from interfering in Pakistan's internal affairs. Neither UN nor EU will ever ask USA to ban execution. So why ask Pakistan?
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Dec 28, 2014 11:14am
WHY? BUS
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Dec 28, 2014 11:47am
UN and EU should mind their own business and quit their double standard (western interest) policies.After 911, where were these peace makers when the war on terror was orchestrated that destroyed Afghanistan,Iraq .In the process, millions of people got killed and displaced. Scores of innocent people got killed in drone attackes in Pakistan. Can anyone please ask EU & UN that under what international law of human rights does this human loss and destruction fall into ? Don't be nosy and let Pakistan decide it's internal affairs.
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Dec 28, 2014 12:06pm
As per Pakistan's situation, what a meaningless demand. Will UN & EU's take responsibility to safe guard innocent citizens of Pakistan from terrorists??
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Dec 28, 2014 12:08pm
they killed innocent peoples and acting like that no law apply to them. not any society would like to allow these kind to move freely. there is no justification of killing innocent people.
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Dec 28, 2014 12:10pm
"Pakistan has some 8,000 death-row inmates awaiting execution. But the government says that moratorium has only been lifted in terrorism cases. The number of those convicted in terrorism-related offences is about 170."
So is Qadri, Salman Taseer's murderer, one of the 170?
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Dec 28, 2014 01:05pm
they should mind their own business rather than butting in our internal affairs
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Dec 28, 2014 01:07pm
Doesn't help the cause ?
Don't know about that but one thing for sure --- it's justice --- once proven --- a killer or terrorist should be killed unless forgiven by the family of the victim.
Whether it helps the cause or not is a different question which may be controversial at best.
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Dec 28, 2014 01:20pm
capital punishment should not be limited to terrorist all rapist serial killers and murderers should be given death penalty
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Dec 28, 2014 01:39pm
Well done Pakistan. We will stop hanging criminals only when the whole world stops.
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Dec 28, 2014 03:44pm
UN or EU can't do anything, Pakistanis have given their consent.This is you called democracy.
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Dec 28, 2014 04:26pm
UN, EU should take strong stance on Pakistan's capital punishment . . .
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Dec 28, 2014 04:46pm
Dear PM!
Just ignore these organizations and carry on executions. All Pakistan is standing with you.
Dear EU and UN!
You are crossing the heights of double standards... Go and impose your regulations upon western countries first, if you think that you are fair.
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Dec 28, 2014 05:14pm
Keep your suggestions close to your countries. We are sovereign state we know what to do and how deal the terrorists responsible of killing innocents.
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Dec 28, 2014 05:39pm
EU's concern about humanity is worth considering......I love EU, please grant visas to all the convicts we wish them happy stay in Europe.....
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Dec 28, 2014 05:39pm
EU should take them as a gift they loved too much.
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Dec 28, 2014 06:39pm
thank you Mr Prime Minister for the right stance
if these terrorists are hanged in your tenure then you will be the Most popular PM.
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Dec 28, 2014 07:04pm
EU' We believe that the death penalty is not an effective tool in the fight against terrorism' Yeah right . the right way is to bring war, bomb the entire cities countries which will also include killing innocent childeren and innocent people just because there were few terrorist so instead of giving those few terrorist capital punishment kill all the people living in the entire region.. I would suggest EU should mind their own business leave pakistan to deal with this situation.
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Dec 28, 2014 07:51pm
I dont get , what it has to do with the relaxation on export taxes. i guess you people want to stop us from progressing in every possible way.
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Dec 28, 2014 08:49pm
So Nawaz Sharif said NO! to the UN. That is not a big deal, really. The UN is not a powerhouse. And the situation the country is in, any other politician wanting to keep his vote bank would have done the same. But now watch Nawaz Sharif and the rest of PML-N take credit for this NO! to the UN in the next election, just like they continue to take full credit for Pakistan becoming a nuclear power.
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Dec 28, 2014 08:53pm
Good Stand, hang the killers.
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Dec 28, 2014 09:51pm
is killing innocent people in accord with human rights.
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Dec 28, 2014 10:16pm
EU, UN, PLEASE stay away from Pakistan's internal matters. Thanks.
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Dec 28, 2014 11:08pm
@Jamal Well said!
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Dec 28, 2014 11:39pm
EU/UN start with America and Saudia Arabia, as they have executing criminals for yonks.
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Dec 28, 2014 11:53pm
UN &EU What's happening in Middle East and USA? Stop hypocritic approach.
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Dec 29, 2014 01:05am
I have a solution. Pakistan will stop executions, if you take the convicted terrorists and keep them. How about that.
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Dec 29, 2014 01:18am
Govt or should i say Army must stand by there decisions to execute terrorists. No matter who ever ask. Only if minimum 100 Terrorist are killed for each and every kid who died at Peshawar, i'll at peace and belief our leaders are not spineless.
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Dec 29, 2014 02:10am
If so much concerned about Capital Punishments then Ban the American Drone Attacks even if you DARE! No doubt... Mind Your Own Business!!!
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Dec 29, 2014 03:59am
It is funny how west and EU try to diktat their so called human rigths terms on south asian countries. They have no say when it comes to China. They should very well know that we south asian countries know how to tackle our criminals and don't need any lesson from west.
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Dec 31, 2014 08:10pm
Where are their human rights when they are busy killing innocent children and women through drone strikes ?
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