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Pakistani hangings 'are brutal'

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The director of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) says the number of recent executions carried out in Punjab province is "brutal".
IA Rehman told the BBC News website that 37 people had been hanged this year in Punjab alone.

He said that compared to 52 people country-wide for all of last year.

Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said decisions as to who should be executed and when were solely the responsibility of the courts.

"We have not accelerated the process and it is just a coincidence that eight people have been hanged over the last three days," he said.

Spiralling crime

Mr Rehman said that the high number of hangings could be linked to the government's drive to reduce over-crowding on death row.

"The sad fact is that the increased number of executions have not really raised eyebrows or generated many public complaints," he said.

"Pakistan has become a brutalised society where people are exposed to killings on an almost daily basis."

He said there could be several reasons for the increased number of hangings, but one explanation was the government's desire to lower the number of people on death row throughout the country - currently estimated to be in excess of 3,500 people.


Mr Rehman said that officials in Punjab especially were being overwhelmed by last-minute mercy petitions and applications for clemency and wanted to "clear the system".

He said another reason for the increased number of executions was a spiralling crime rate, coupled with moves recently introduced by the government for offences such as drugs dealing, gang rape and kidnapping to be punishable by the death penalty.

Previously only murder and sedition were dealt with by capital punishment.

Mr Rehman said that many people convicted under the rules - introduced several years ago - are now coming to the end of the appeals process.

'Feudal vendettas'

"The tragedy is that many people who have been hanged or are on death row have not received fair trials," he said.

"They are often the victims of feudal vendettas that take place in parts of Pakistan on a regular basis.


"Furthermore they are often convicted by courts or judicial tribunals which are not impartial and where police evidence is insufficient."

Figures released by the HRCP show that some people sentenced to death can wait up to 15 years in jail before their sentence is either commuted or they are hanged.

"In contrast people accused of terrorist offences - such as attempting to kill the president or a senior member of the establishment - can be sentenced and hanged within two years," Mr Rehman said.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5219900.stm
 
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Related story
'Huge injustice' in murder case

The highest court of Pakistan has ordered an inquiry into the case of a man who spent three years in jail for a murder that never happened.
A Supreme Court official confirmed on Wednesday that Malik Taj Mohammed had been the victim of a "huge injustice".

He proved his innocence when it was discovered that his "murder victim" was serving a jail sentence for theft.

Lawyers say the case is exceptional, even though false charges in criminal cases are often made in Pakistan.

Mock burial

The chief justice ordered Mr Mohammed's immediate release and told a lower court to carry out an inquiry to identify those officials responsible for wrongly incarcerating him.

A court official told the BBC that the victim, Malkani Bibi, was believed to have been murdered during a property dispute between relatives a few years ago, and a case was registered against Malik Taj Mohammed.

The official told the BBC that the accused had been convicted by a lower court of murder, and had been languishing in jail for the past three years.



Mr Mohammed told the chief justice that his "opponents" had even gone so far as to perform a mock burial of Ms Bibi, the official said.

Mr Mohammed informed the court that the "murdered" woman had in fact been arrested in another case and is currently serving a sentence in a prison in the city of Gujrat.

The chief justice ordered to the police to present her before him, and she was located and brought before the court.

After verifying the facts, he ordered the release of Mr Mohammed with immediate effect, and said the inquiry should establish whether he was entitled to any compensation.

Human rights activists have welcomed the ruling.
 
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And HOW is this topic related to Pakistan's Strategic and Geopolitical issues? Its more related to Social Issues and so the thread is being moved there.

Secondly, when you open a thread, provide your own thoughts to the discussion. You can't just expect to sit back and relax after copy, pasting and let others begin the discussion for you.
 
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My apologies for posting int he wrong section.

I didnt know there were so many rules and regulations as to how/what can and can not be posted by whom with or without one's own opinion.
 
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Hangings should be carried out according to the law.

Fair trials need to be had to reach this verdict, and everything must be according to the law. any break in this order leads to horrible consequences, which usually take place in rural places.

execution is vital for heinous crimes.
 
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Whats the importance of this thread?
Why should I care how the criminal is hanged?
He/she has to commit a capital crime to deserve this punishment, no mercy, no sympathy from me!
 
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