|
PAKISTAN: SC STAYS HANGING OF MENTALLY ILL CONVICT IMDAD ALI
October 31, 2016: Supreme Court stayed the execution of Imdad Ali, a schizophrenic man convicted in 2002 for murdering a cleric. The hanging was postponed on the basis of Ali's mental illness.
The court issued notices to Advocate General Punjab, Prosecutor General Punjab and Attorney General, seeking their comments on the issue.
The notices were issued in connection with a review petition submitted by Imdad Ali's wife.
The apex court had already rejected a plea as his lawyers said Ali is unfit to be executed since he is unable to understand his crime and punishment.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali heard the case.
Counsel for Ali's wife informed the court that the death warrant for Ali has been issued, however he has not yet been executed. The hearing of the case will resume in the second week of November.
Government doctors in 2012 certified Imdad Ali, 50, as being a paranoid schizophrenic, after he was convicted and sentenced to death for the 2001 murder of a cleric.
Rights groups have denounced the possible execution of Imdad Ali.
He was due to be executed on October 26, according to execution orders issued last week.
But the Supreme Court agreed to review an Oct. 21 ruling on Ali's final appeal, when the court ruled that schizophrenia did not fall within Pakistan's legal definition of mental disorders. (Sources: nation.com.pk, 31/10/2016)
|
