Execution of youth suspect stayed in Pakistan
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 19 March 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Execution of youth suspect stayed in Pakistan, 19 March 2015, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/552f9d8121.html [accessed 26 January 2017] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
March 19, 2015
In Pakistan, a man charged as a child with murder and due to be hanged this week has been given a reprieve.
Shafqat Hussain was scheduled to be executed early on March 19 in the port city of Karachi for the 2004 killing of a seven-year-old.
His family and lawyers say he was 14 years old at the time of the crime and allege his confession was extracted through torture.
After a public outcry and condemnation from human rights groups, officials stayed his execution late on March 18 although it is not clear for how long.
Hussain's case is the most high-profile execution case following a government decision to lift Pakistan's moratorium on the death penalty.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ended the moratorium for terrorism-related cases in December, following a Pakistani Taliban attack on a school that killed more than 150 people, and it has since been lifted entirely.
Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and dpa
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
