Shia-Sunni outfits’ deal stops convict’s hanging

LAHORE: A convicted sectarian terrorist Ikramul Haq alias Ikram Lahori on Thursday morning escaped the gallows at the last moment, as the family of the deceased pardoned the convict after two sectarian groups reached a deal and decided to pardon Ikramul Haq and six other death row prisoners from both sides.
The News has learnt that under the deal, heirs of the deceased had pardoned the death row prisoners and they would record their statements before a court of law. The deal, termed a ‘Peace Truce’, would help free death row prisoners detained in Faisalabad and Jhang jails.
The first part of the deal took place on Thursday as mother of the deceased Nayyar, his brother Iftikhar Hussain and petitioner Altaf Hussain Shah, former president Tehrik-e-Jafferia, Shorkot, recorded their statements in the Kot Lakpat Jail before the judicial magistrate Imran Ishaq, which helped postpone Ikramul Haq Lahori’s execution.
The case was registered in 2001 on charges of the murder of Nayyar Abbas, a gunman of Altaf Hussain Shah. Ikramul Haq was booked as a result of a supplementary statement.
Altaf Hussain Shah, who is leading the peace committee, confirmed to The News that an agreement had been reached between both groups. Under the deal, he said, the family of the deceased recorded their statements, pardoning Ikramul Haq.
As the next step, members of the other banned outfit would record their statements in favour of one Ishaq Asgher Shah, detained at Jhang Jail, and another Liaqat Hussain Jaffri at Faisalabad Jail, both facing death sentence over their involvement in sectarian killings.
After pardoning Ishaq and Liaqat, the members of Tehrik-e-Jafria would record their statements in favour of Sarwar, Shabbir and two other Lashker-e-Jhangvi affiliates, facing death sentence, currently detained in city Jail Jhang, he added.
He complained that the media persons were not presenting facts. He said after recording statements before a magistrate, they reached the anti-terrorism court Faisalabad but the judge did not hear them.
Altaf said Sarwar, Shabbir and others were nominated in the murder case of six persons in 1995 including a child during an attack on an Imambargah, located in Jhang City. He said they have decided to reach a deal for peace and better future of the country.
He clarified that they have recorded statements in favour of Ikramul Haq Lahori and not in favour of Akram Lahori. He kept on saying that this Ikramul Haq was nominated in a single murder case.
Advocate Ghulam Mustafa Mangan, counsel for Ikramul Haq alias Ikram Lahori, also talked to The News and confirmed that matter had been settled between the two sectarian groups. He said on Wednesday night, an agreement was reached which will lead to pardoning of the condemned prisoners of both groups.
He said they had filed a plea in an anti-terrorism court a couple of days ago and told the judge Raja Akhter Parvez that the heirs of deceased Nayyer had agreed to pardon Ikramul, but the judge declined their plea.
So they approached the Lahore High Court and got orders to present the heirs before the magistrate at the time of execution. He said he, along with Ihsanul Haq, brother of convict Ikram, and legal heirs of the deceased Nayyer reached Kot Lakhpat Jail just 30 seconds before execution. He said they recorded their statements before the judicial magistrate after which Ikram’s execution was stopped.About the deal, he said both sides have decided to pardon their respective death convict for the sake of peace in the country.