Pakistan and the Death Penalty: Time to Call it Quits

Saudi Arabia and death penalty, Pakistan and death penalty; what a dead topic?

America and and death penalty...no wait...what penalty!

Well, why don't we highlight the evils of the electric chair and the lethal injection?

A bad butcher always thinks the other butcher is brutal.

madani writes "Great ZAB was put to death when he he had 100 of millions dollars worth in local currencies, flats in Paris, london etc."

ZAB was not put to death because of his millions of dollars or his flats, he was put to death because the military feared him because of his support from the masses without the millions and the flats that he was empowering.....

Thanks for replying Miss Sarwar,

The 'Fasten Seat Belts' signs are 'ON'; I must return to my seat.

Re: # 7 - It is not that Pakistan has a law against sentencing women to death - courts here have pronounced such sentences, condemning women to death by hanging and 'rajm' (stoning). It is another matter that such judgements have been overturned on appeal.

Furthermore, they don't hang women here like they do in Iran. Why this gender bias!

May Allah protect one from the evil of poverty. To be poor is to be half a criminal.

We, with our fancy computers, can only read what it feels to be poor.

Before the State (and Islamic at that!?) steals away the right of the individual regarding extreme punishment, it must lay the foundation of a just society where indulging in criminality automatically becomes abhorable. In a debt-ridden country, the corrupt elite will face capital punishment if God were to send down a few avenging angels!

Re: # 4 IRAN will survive and become prosperous as they punish people for crime.

29 convicts executed in Iran’s Evin prison

TEHRAN, July 27: Iran executed 29 convicted drug smugglers and other criminals in the Evin prison at dawn on Sunday, state media reported, following an expanded crackdown on crime.

Sunday’s executions all took place at 5:10am, said state broadcaster IRIB. Executions of a handful of people at the same time are often reported but rarely a group this large.

“The 29 who were executed this morning were involved in the smuggling of narcotics on a wide scale, organised crime, murder and armed robbery,� Tehran prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi was quoted as saying by state radio.

Police have in recent weeks arrested dozens of people in a new drive against “immoral behaviour� in Iran. Iran had said on Saturday it planned to execute 30 people for murder, rape, drug smuggling and other crimes.

“We are hoping Tehran will become the most unsafe place for drug dealers, thugs and trouble-makers and also violators of people’s honour,� Mortazavi said.

“These convicts had long criminal records and after being released from prison they returned to the same criminal activities,� he said.

IRIB said they “had smuggled thousands of kilos of narcotics in the country and outside the country� and that some of them were also convicted of rape, murder, armed robbery and “disrupting public security and peace�.—Agencies

Re: # 3 Fear is key to have law and order.

Re: # 1 This is wrong to say only poor are killed by state.
Great ZAB was put to death when he he had 100 of millions dollars worth in local currencies, flats in Paris, london etc.
Removing death penlty is wrong as crimes must be punished is godly way religious way per Sherif Kuran also.

May be person be pardoned and given if agrees to repent and victims family can use him as slave, naukar all life. This is reason I do not like liberal leftist covert communist and they support terrorism indirectly.
Our great friend China on an average puts 80,000 to 100,000 people to death per year but helps all other innocent chinese. Look at china economic mirtacle our permanant handicapped situation.
Terrorist are in control of almost 1/2 areas of country as this liberal journalists go on giving explaination of poverty and deprevation. Now this tribal terror are burning female schools killing people and firing on innocent army men. If govt put to death such terrorists all these people go on crying and asking to save their life. What is point in saving he kills soldiers cold bloodedly and gets joy.
Also this bogey of poverty is not correct. Most poor are not involved in crime all over world. Writer has inheartent bias poor people are criminal and she is on mercy mission.
China has no unrest. Splitists are shot dead summarily and then judge confirms. They do not discriminate whether terror is from south west in Eastern Turkestan or tibet. Troubl makers are shot dead and family charged for execution charges same in Iran after I.Revolution. They taught openly carrying out execyutions in Mahabad of kurdish terrorists and arab terrorists in Kuzestan in Ahwaj. Result both provience are free of terror. If terrorist are useing terror state can use terror forces. Clear view of law and order has kept IR of Inran and China one islamic republic and china which is socialist democramtic republic.
When p.Talibs finally arrive on seen all Binas would have taken flight to usa while madani willbe shot by barbarians. You do not understand army has lost courage even to comfort and qute fast they can cut down demoralised army and start hanging no body will any thing.
Please do something good that padagogical nonsense. How many people are executed by that this year ? And how many people are killed by terror ?. You people are handcapping law enforcement by putting restriction on people who are doing job and good chance of blown by by terror. No in normal circumstances thais whining ok but at this time when half country is on fire. Easy to sit on side lines inhome and punch out some thing for change. recently man ( 40 years) was short by terroe in tribal areas we was serving army once he told his relatives they attack we can not retaliate.
Most poor do not do any crime as being poor they are religious more than most. At same time they have no licence to killor make crime as they are poor.
Socialista and communists sympathezers are most hypocrite they do not have guts to be communist people ( then those tours to america will be problems). In morning all hypocrites will go to march and cry with poor people and then evening they will dress , put ironed dress ( raskals have even designer clothes in morning to look dirty and sullied when they are with people ), then drink alcohol ( which is forbidden but who cares about Islam before liquor) eat desiger foods selectively so not to put weight ( these socialist type care about figure more as tv should show them good.) then exercise at home, even do Yoga- hindu practice , and then join parties etc. and dicuss food and give sometimes even 100 Rs tip.
Karl Marx said all have explained but he is suggesting how to change for fight.These socialist , communists of pakistan are shame have no real faioth in equality etc, for me to believbe is to act. This social revolutionaries are always missing in action at least reigious fanatics have conviction and they act on it.
This bhuttos all all socialits are big zero.
Capitalpunishment should be rare and must be executed judiciously. reform law system if uou want but do not encourage criminals left wing ideas.
Even in Saudi arabia execution is every day event so people do not behave with evil way as hand which stole is chopped away. Looks harsh but sets example of simple harsh justice. ERAR is Key to Controllook at china and iran and saudi arabia almost no crime or terror.All unreasobale advocacy
Good day.

Beena,
A thought-provoking piece! You rock, as always!
My best wishes to Shah sahib! I am glad the February elections are at least making some positive difference in the life of individuals.
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Sincerely,
BJ2

I agree Beena. Though I am -- in theory -- in favour of capital punishment I don't think that in a society like Pakistan is at present with corruption and lack of justice, the death penalty can be justified--even on Islamic grounds. Therefore I'd remove it or propose a moritarium on ALL Hadd punishments for the next 100 years at least. And there IS Islamic precedent for this too: during the caliphate of Sayyidina 'Umar he stopped implementation of Hadd when there was a famine in Madina due to the hardships people were facing.

So, definitely stop Hadd and especially capital punishment in Pakistan.