IHC defers Shafqat’s execution for one day

ISLAMABAD: Though the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has deferred the execution of condemned murderer, Shafqat Hussain, for one day and questioned the legality of the inquiry committee that probed the documents pertaining to Shafqat’s age, the Interior Ministry officials claim that the committee was formed only to look into the ‘claims and documents’ brought in the media by the NGOs and Shafqat’s family.
Sources in the Interior Ministry said that legally, the age of Shafqat was ascertained by the police when he was arrested as he told the police that he was 23 years old in 2004. When he was jailed, a doctor also mentioned the same age in the documents. The recent inquiry committee was constituted to ascertain the documents and claims of Shafqat’s family which were run in the media as part of a campaign to save the killer.
After the inquiry committee’s report on NGO’s campaign, Shafqat’s death warrants were issued again but the IHC stayed his execution for one day.Online adds: Shafqat Hussain had also filed an application seeking a judicial inquiry into the matter of verification of his age. He had expressed dissatisfaction over the Federal Investigation Agency’s inquiry into the matter of determination of his age.
Justice Athar Minallah of the IHC, who is hearing the case, inquired who had ordered a probe for determining the age of Shafqat Hussain. The government lawyer told the court that an inquiry was held as per the orders of the Interior Ministry.
Justice Minallah remarked, “Inquiry held by Interior Ministry for determination of age of Shafqat Hussain bears no value after Supreme Court’s decision. Inquiry committee is illegal. Why action should not be taken against those who did it?”
Justice Minallah had earlier given remarks that “Determination of age of the convict was not responsibility of administration. This was prerogative of competent judicial forum and the judicial forum appointed by superior judiciary can determine the age.”
The court had directed counsel for federal government to explain the legal status of inquiry held for determination of age of death convict.The court issued a stay order against the implementation of orders for execution of Shafqat Hussain for one day after directing the lawyers of the parties concerned for completion of their arguments.