ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office rejected on Friday the European Union’s criticism of death penalty and emphasised that Pakistan was fully adhering to its international commitments.

“Pakistan is not violating any international law. Pakistan is a member of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Our Constitution and legal system contain death penalty, and it is within the parameters of the international law,” Foreign Office Spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said at the weekly media briefing.

He was responding to a statement by the EU which called executions a setback for human rights in the country. The EU, while referring to the execution of Aftab Bahadur, who was reportedly a juvenile when he committed the offence, and dismissal of the latest petition by Supreme Court in Shafqat Hussain’s case, who too claims to be a juvenile at the time of the offence he committed, had said that death sentence for crimes committed by persons under eighteen years of age was neither permissible under international law nor Pakistan’s laws.

The EU, which had since the lifting of moratorium on death penalty avoided linking the row to GSP+ preferential trade scheme, for the first in its statement issued a veiled warning that trade concessions too could be affected by the executions. “Effective implementation of the international conventions is a requirement under the European Union’s GSP+ Regulation,” the EU had said.

The FO spokesperson rejected the perception of Pakistan violating the international human rights instruments.

“It is the responsibility of the state to protect the life of its citizens and we are doing that,” he said, apparently in defence of the lifting of moratorium on death penalty in the wake of the Peshawar school tragedy, aimed at deterring terrorists.

About 158 convicts have been executed since the lifting of the moratorium – most of whom had been convicted on charges of murder and not terrorism.

However, more than 500 inmates, who have been awarded death penalty after being convicted of terrorism related offences, have evaded the hangman’s noose.

ECONOMIC CORRIDOR: The spokesman confirmed that security of Chinese workers was on the agenda of Chinese State Minister for Security Dong Haizhou’s visit to Islamabad earlier this week.

“In our meetings, we discuss all issues that are considered important by both sides and security of Chinese personnel in Pakistan is one of them,” Mr Khalilullah said.

Security is considered a major challenge in the way of the ambitious 3,000km China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, which will also pass through the restive Balochistan province.

Immediately after the announcement of the project, the army announced creation of a special 10,000-strong force for protecting development works to be carried out under the CPEC and the Chinese workers associated with them.

“We do not foresee any problems in their (CPEC projects’) implementation, as both sides have a commitment to the economic corridor and its projects, which are very important for connectivity and Pakistan’s development and will benefit the entire region,” the spokesman said.

AFGHANISTAN: The spokesman skirted a question about the recently signed intelligence cooperation agreement between the spy agencies of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“Both countries are against terrorism and remain committed to fighting this menace and have agreed to take coordinated action against terrorists,” the spokesman said while responding to a question if the ISI-NDS agreement existed.

Inter-Services Public Relations, the military’s public affairs wing, had in the past confirmed the signing of the accord. But increased opposition in Kabul to the agreement has forced the Ghani administration to go into its shell on this issue as Taliban violence continues unabated and there has been no visible progress on the reconciliation front.

An ambiguous reply by the FO spokesman reinforces the impression that all is not well with the agreement that at the time of its signing last month was heralded as ‘path breaking’.

“Both the countries believe that peace and security in the region is important for economic development. Pakistan is committed to its relations with Afghanistan. We are supporting an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process,” he said.

APP adds: The FO spokesman said Pakistan knew how to deal with any threat to its security and it had the capacity to respond to anyone and was taking measures and steps to protect its integrity, sovereignty and security at all costs.

“Pakistan is a peace-loving country but will take every step to ensure protection of its interests and integrity at all costs,” he said.

Condemning threatening statements by the Indian leadership, the spokesperson said the issue would be raised at the United Nations and all other international forums.

He said these threats had exposed the real face of India which claims to be a secular state.

“We are committed to dialogue process and peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues but it should be reciprocated by other side also,” the spokesperson said.

Published in Dawn June 13th, 2015

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