ISLAMABAD - Sherry Rehman, Vice-President of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), on Saturday called for an urgent halt to the execution of Shafqat Hussain and asked that he should be given a fair re-trial opportunity as earlier had been promised by the government.
Asking for justice for the boy who was 14-year-old when he was sentenced, Rehman said, “The criminal justice system of our country does not allow the death penalty for juveniles. It is imperative that this case goes to trial again, if only for the reason that he was promised a fair one and deserves it under our law. We should not let our justice system be subverted.”
The PPPP vice-president further said, “Right to fair trial has been recognised as a fundamental right under article 10-A in the 18th amendment.
Denying Shafqat the right to be tried under laws meant for trial of juveniles at the time amounts to a denial of fair trial.” Hussain, who was sentenced to death for murdering a child, was only 14 at the time of the event.
The FIR lodged at the time of the incident wrongly stated that he was 24.
Rehman appealed to Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, who a few months ago in public statements had promised an inquiry into the case, to give his personal attention to this case.
Hussain is sentenced to be hanged on March 19. Rehman said the PPP cannot stand silent where such a travesty of justice is playing out with the children of Pakistan.