Sept. 4
PAKISTAN:
Execution moratorium cannot be linked to Taliban talks: Zardari
The outgoing president of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday emphasised that
maintaining moratorium on death penalties is the European Union's condition for
granting preferential market access to Pakistan and should not be linked to
dealing with Taliban militants, DawnNews reported.
Speaking to a dinner hosted by Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Syed
Khurshid Shah in his honour, he said Taliban were non-state elements, however,
there was no harm in negotiating with them.
European Union Ambassador to Pakistan Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, however, had
clarified that the European Commission had no condition linking abolition of
death penalty to grant of preferential market access to the country.
The government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif scrapped a 5-year moratorium on
the death penalty in June in a bid to crack down on criminals and militants in
the violence-torn country.
Hangings were due to resume last week until a temporary stay was ordered
following objections from the president and rights groups.
President Zardari, who is set to vacate the Presidency on September 8, said
stopping the announced and planned executions was not aimed at any specific
segment of the society. "Extending the moratorium cannot be linked with
facilitating potential peace talks with Taliban militants," he added.
Commenting on recent developments pertaining to restoration of peace in
Karachi, the president backed the federal government for deciding against the
demands of handing over the port city to Pakistani armed forces.
However, he added, a heavy responsibility lies on the government and the
Pakistan Army of eradicating the menace of terrorism.
President Zardari, who is set to revamp his beleaguered Pakistan People's Party
(PPP) upon completion of his presidential tenure, vowed to extend all possible
assistance to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government.
He also vowed to remain active in national politics and not to live a "retired"
life and said that he will not let the PML-N government be derailed. "I will
welcome the newly elected president in the Presidency," he added.
Haji Adeel of Awami National Party (ANP), Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed and
Senator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain of PML-Q, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Dr Fehmida
Mirza, Raja Zafarul Haq of PML-N and Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq among
other notables attended the dinner.
(source: Dawn)
SAUDI ARABIA----execution
Saudi beheaded for murder of brother
A Saudi was beheaded by the sword on Tuesday after being convicted of murdering
his brother, the interior ministry said.
Abdullah Al Harbi was convicted of shooting dead his brother Mohammed with a
pistol, it said in a statement carried by state news agency SPA.
His beheading in Qasim province, north of Riyadh, brought to 63 the number of
people executed in Saudi Arabia so far this year, according to an AFP count.
In 2012, the kingdom carried out 76 executions, according to a tally based on
official figures.
(source: Agence France-Presse)
UNITED KINGDOM:
Lawyer and Islington Cllr gets on bike to back death row inmates
Civil rights lawyer and councillor Greg Foxsmith is getting on his bike to
raise cash for a charity providing aid for death row inmates and suspected
terrorists.
On Sunday Cllr Foxsmith is joining the London to Brighton Cycle Race of about
55 miles to fundraise for Reprieve.
He said: "I believe in fairness and freedom, and as a legal aid lawyer have
strived to help people protect their rights.
"As a believer in open justice, I fundamentally opposed the Crime and Security
Bill which earlier this year introduced 'secret courts'." He added: "During the
campaign, I was struck by the excellent campaigning work on this issue by
Reprieve, a charity I have long admired for excellent campaigns on justice and
death row cases."
Matt Leidecker, from Reprieve, said: "We are a bunch of ninja lawyers fighting
for prisoners facing the death penalty and subject to illegal detention around
the world, but we wouldn't be able to do this work without the support of
people like Greg. We are a small organisation, punching well above our weight,
so all donations really do make a huge difference to our clients."
(source: Islington Gazette)
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