Last-minute pardon saves man from gallows

FAISALABAD: Implementation on the death sentence of a triple murder case convict, Manzoor alias Jhura of Chak 22/GB was stopped at the eleventh hour of his hanging here on Wednesday.

The reconciliatory efforts with the members of bereaved families were proved fruitful. Convict Manzoor was to be hanged at the Central Jail, Faisalabad on Wednesday morning. Before bringing him to gallows, the judicial officer approved the reconciliatory agreement which led to stoppage of his execution.

Manzoor alias Jhura had assassinated his sister-in-law Ameena and two of her daughters Shagufta and Tasleem Begum on November 22, 2005 over a domestic issue. He was awarded death penalty by the then Session Judge Abdul Waheed Khan in this triple murder case. His mercy appeal was rejected by the President of Pakistan a week ago. International conference at UAF: Speakers at an international conference said that the dairy disease scenario was changing with the import of exotic animals and other challenges. They said the situation demands tangible research work and measures to cope with outbreak of new diseases.

Addressing the inaugural session of two-day international conference titled ‘Dairy Animal Health Challenges’ arranged by University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) here on Wednesday, UAF Vice Chancellor Dr M Iqbal Zafar said that agriculture remains the largest employer of workforce and a source of livelihood for the masses. He said the sector was contributing 20 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the livestock was the main player with 50 percent contribution.

Expressing concerns over growing animal disease burden, he said the UAF experts had introduced various technologies like mastitis diagnostic kit and mastitis vaccine, camphorated oil (a lifesaving drug for animals), targeted selective treatment for control of drug resistant/susceptible haemonchus contortus, phytotherapy: an easy and economic way to cure the gastro-intestinal parasites in sheep to combat the disease in an effective manner.