HRCP’s alarm over move towards general revival of executions

Lahore: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed grave concern over recent actions by the authorities aimed at resuming executions for all death penalty offences.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commission said: “HRCP must express its serious alarm over worrying recent movement towards resumption of executions for all death penalty offences, soon after partial end to an informal moratorium to allow for executions of terror convicts.

“A presidential notification has been issued regarding withdrawal of a moratorium on executions for all death penalty convicts, and a communication sent by the federal interior ministry to all provincial home secretaries to carry out death penalties where all legal avenues have been exhausted.

“HRCP is dismayed that the general public sentiment over impunity for terrorists is being used to revive executions. This is a disturbing development particularly when the government had specifically advocated execution of only convicts of terrorism offences.

HRCP would strongly advise against expanding that to all death penalty offences. In going for a general revival of executions without considering the deeply flawed criminal justice system context in Pakistan, we believe that the authorities are going for vengeance rather than justice. The decision might also entail some economic cost for Pakistan, but HRCP urges the government to consider also the human cost of the decision.”