Many of the prisoners likely to be executed in Pakistan as the country resumes executions were convicted of crimes that bear no relation to a terrorism threat, Reprieve has said.
According to early media reports in Pakistan, executions could start being scheduled in the country within the next 48 hours, and will initially include people convicted on terrorism charges and “heinous crimes”. They could include a fifteen year old boy who was convicted of kidnapping, on the basis of a forced confession extracted after nine days of torture.
The decision to lift the country’s 2-year moratorium on executions is consistent with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s recent public stance against the “existential threat” of terrorism; concerns have been raised, however, about his government's sweeping use of anti-terrorism courts. In the province of Sindh, where Pakistan’s most populous city is located, nearly 40 per cent of the prisoners on death row were tried as terrorists in the special courts - apparently in the interests of securing swift convictions - despite many cases involving non-terror related crimes such as involuntary manslaughter. Trials in the anti-terrorism courts have been criticised as falling short of international standards.
Pakistan has the world’s largest death row, with over 8,000 people currently awaiting execution.
Maya Foa, head of the death penalty team at Reprieve, said: “Today’s announcement puts thousands of lives at risk. The prospect of executions in the next 48 hours should be cause for immediate action from countries with strong links to Pakistan, such as the US and the UK. Our research suggests that many of the individuals who would be first in line for execution are simply not terrorists, and that the law is being abused in a way that perverts justice and fails to keep anyone safe.
"The swift execution of large numbers of people, convicted in trials falling well short of basic standards, is not justice. The tragic events in Peshawar this week require a measured and reasoned response, not a knee-jerk reaction that could see thousands of lives wantonly put at risk.”
Source: Reprieve, December 17, 2014
Pakistan Prime Minister lifts moratorium on death penalty after Taliban attack
December 17, 2014: the Pakistani Prime Minister lifted the moratorium on the death penalty in terrorism-related cases, a day after Taliban gunmen attacked a school in Peshawar, killing 132 students and nine teachers, a government spokesman said.
Mohiuddin Wani said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had approved the decision of a ministerial committee to ensure implementation of death penalties for hardcore terrorists involved in heinous crimes.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif described the attack as a "national tragedy unleashed by savages". "These were my children. This is my loss. This is the nation's loss."
The terror attack in Peshawar saw nine Tehreek-e-Taliban insurgents storm the army-run school while around 500 children and teachers were believed to be inside.
They moved from room to room during the eight hour attack in what is believed to have been an act of revenge for a major military offensive in the region.
It came after a district government official confirmed a US drone strike in eastern Afghanistan killed 11 militants, including four Pakistan Taliban, on 16 December.
The Afghan Taliban issued a statement condemning the attack in Peshawar.
Sources: Reuters/Samaa.tv/sky.com, December 17, 2014