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Pakistani Lawyers: Abolishing Death Penalty Is Anti-Islamic
A proposal to abolish the death penalty is being considered by the government of Pakistan. Several Pakistani lawyers have said that the federal government’s move to abolish the death penalty from Pakistan is unconstitutional and anti-Islamic. According to a report in the Urdu-language newspaper Roznama Express, even if the government passed a law abolishing the death penalty, the Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan has the authority to annul it. The report quoted Lahore-based advocates Aftab Ahmed Bajwa, Khwaja Tariq Suhail, Muhammad Azhar and Wasim Ahmad as saying that abolishing the death penalty is not sanctioned by Islam. The advocates said the government move is designed to help Indian national Sarabjit Singh, now waiting to be hanged in a Pakistani jail on the charge of spying. Pakistan has postponed the implementation of Sarabjit Singh’s verdict due to the intervention of the Indian government but the issue has provoked national sentiments in both the countries. India and Pakistan both have hundreds of individuals in jails and recently the Indian government has handed over two bodies to Pakistani authorities. In addition to the Supreme Court, Pakistan also operates a Federal Shariat Court, which reviews laws and recommends their abolition in the case of conflict with Islam. The Federal Shariat Court’s orders are also binding on the subordinate judiciary. Source: Roznama Express, Pakistan, April 27, 2008
Posted at: 2008-05-02
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