Mirza Tahir Hussain: a long wait for “justice”
Mirza Tahir Hussain is to have his death sentence commuted by President Musharraf (click source). This is great news. However, questions remain.
Why did it take Musharraf so long?
Will Mirza receive any compensation for the eighteen years of his life that were taken from him on the strength of an unsafe conviction under a dubious legal system (Sharia Law)?
Why was it eighteen years before his case came to the attention of the media and the UK political establishment?
When will state sponsored murder be universally abolished?
The long wait for “justice”
December 1988 — Mirza-Tahir Hussain, 18, flies from Leeds to Pakistan, where he is arrested after death of taxi driver near Rawalpindi. He claims that he shot driver in self-defence.
September 1989 — A sessions court in Islamabad sentences him to death.
November 1992 — The High Court orders a retrial.
April 1994 — A sessions court in Islamabad sentences him to life.
May 1996 — The High Court acquits him of murder but a month later refers the case to the Federal Sharia Court.
May 1998 — The Sharia court sentences him to death by two votes to one.
December 2003 — The Supreme Sharia Court of Pakistan rejects the appeal.
May 2006 – President Musharraf issues the first of three stays of execution. The last expires on October 1.
October 26 – Ramadan and Eid end, meaning Hussain can be hanged at any time.
November 15 – Reprieved.
Tags: Pakistan, Human Rights Infringement, Pervez Musharraf
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Friday, November 17, 2006 at 6:23 pm
G,
This best of conclusions to events you’ve chronicled on this innocent man’s behalf are proof positive of the Power in Written Words.
Way to Go.
Friday, November 17, 2006 at 11:44 pm
First learned about Mirza in ‘92 when I was writing press releases for Amnesty Int. Nobody gave a shit then and, in truth they don’t now.
I knew he’d never die at the end of a rope; knew that when it was to political advantage they’d release him.
Truth is though, it was always going to be too late, for him.
Anyway, I guess now, as an over-weight, white- bearded, middle-aged man he’ll be able to travel safely in a taxi…