LAHORE, July 9: The Action Committee of the Heirs to the Murdered staged a demonstration and a walk against the government’s decision to commute the death sentence of 700 murderers.

The committee members, led by Mian Liaquat Ali, staged a demonstration in front of the Lahore Press Club and then walked to Governor’s House to file an application for a review of the decision.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced recently that death sentence of all murderers would be commuted to life term.

Ali said the committee wanted the death sentence to stay because only the heirs to those murdered could pardon their murderers. He said the government had no right to commute their death sentences, adding the step would provoke the heirs to those murdered to avenge murders of their near and dear ones.

The Supreme Court has taken suo motu notice of the commutation of death penalty and is likely to take up the case next week.