EU envoy hosts screening against death penalty

European Union Ambassador Androulla Kaminara hosted an exclusive live screening of Before the Sun Comes Up by Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) to mark the 18th World Day against the Death Penalty.

The live art performance was based on four original short stories of death row prisoners written by Mohammed Hanif and narrated by Sarmad Khoosat. It also featured a musician and a visual artist from Edinburgh, Scotland. The performance was conceived by Ryan Van Winkle and produced by JPP.

The screening was attended by foreign dignitaries, representatives of civil society organisations and government officials, while Law and Justice Minister Barrister Dr Mohammad Farogh Naseem was invited as the chief guest.

Ambassador Kaminara said: “The call for the death penalty might come from an impulse in reaction to a horrific crime. But as a society, we need to reflect deeper on what justice really means and what needs to be done for such crimes to not happen again. The performance that premiered today invites us to enter this discussion.”

She added: “The EU holds a principled position against the death penalty in all circumstances and for all cases. It considers capital punishment to be inhumane, degrading and unnecessary. As a matter of fact, there is no valid scientific evidence to support that the death penalty deters crime more effectively than other punishments. Instead, it is the certainty of being caught and punished that serves as a deterrent and of course actions to prevent such crimes from happening in the first place.”

JPP Executive Director Sarah Belal said: “We want to highlight flaws in our criminal justice system so viewers can witness the horrors of being on death row, particularly at a time when a pandemic has cut them off from the little interaction they were allowed earlier with the rest of the world. No one heard from these prisoners for nearly six months.”

Polling for presidential election at Tajik embassy

Following parliamentary elections in Tajikistan on March 1, 2020, the presidential election was held on Oct 11. Emphasising the importance of voting, the Embassy of Tajikistan became a polling station in Islamabad to ensure that Tajik diplomats were able to participate.

The Tajik Central Election Commission had announced earlier that five people were registered as candidates: Rustam Latifzoda from the Agrarian Party, Abduhalim Ghafforov from the Socialist Party, Miroj Abdulloyey from the Communist Party, Rustam Rahmatzoda from the Party of Economic Reform and incumbent President Emomali Rahmon from the People’s Democratic Party.

Mr Rahmon has been in power since 1992. He was named the founder of peace and national unity and the founder of the nation in 2015 by the Tajik parliament; the title came with lifelong immunity from prosecution and a role in government as long as he lives.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2020