Lahore: Opposing federal government’s decision to repeal death penalty from the country, provincial government of Punjab has sent in writing its response to the president.
In addition to Punajb, the largest province by population of Pakistan, Azad Kashmir, Balochistan and KhyberPukhtoonkhwa have also opposed repealing death penalty.
After coming in power, Pakistan Peoples Party decided in 2008 to end death penalty and hanging and alternate them with life sentence. But opposition from the majority of the provincial governments have put this issue in limbo.
According to officials figures available to Pakistan’s largest independent bilingual news website The News Tribe, over 6,500 criminals have been given death sentence by different courts in Punjab.
The president Asif Ali Zardari has also dismissed mercy appeal of 42 criminals caught in heinous crimes like killing, robbery, kidnapping, fornication, terrorism and others.
The fate of these criminals, nevertheless, is hanging in balance due to indecision of the government over removing death penalty.
Punjab’s officials say that federal government recommended to repeal death penalty from all serious crimes; however, the provincial government has decided to oppose the recommendation given crime situation in the province.
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