Call to halt execution

LAHORE
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called upon the prime minister and the interior minister to intervene to save the life of Shafqat Hussain, a death prisoner, who was 14-year-old at the time of commission of the offence that he has been convicted of.
Shafqat, now 23, is jailed in Karachi Central Prison and warrants for his execution on March 19 have been issued. In its letter, HRCP stated that in January, the interior minister had intervened to halt Shafqat’s execution and stated in parliament that the government had arrived at the decision after information regarding issues around Shafqat’s case had reached the Ministry of Interior. The minister had announced that an inquiry would be conducted by the interior ministry on the concerns raised regarding Shafqat’s conviction. No such inquiry has taken place and Shafqat is now headed for the gallows on March 18, stated HRCP.
It pointed out that Shafqat’s conviction was in violation of Pakistan’s obligation under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which prohibited state parties from imposing capital punishment for offences supposedly committed by a person below 18-year of age.
It urged the government to immediately halt Shafqat’s execution and inquire into his case as promised, in order to pave the way for him to be reunited with his family. It stated that several other people facing imminent executions had also petitioned the courts and the government, explaining their circumstances and pointing out flaws in their conviction.