Pakistan cutting death penalty crimes sparks call for total abolition
Activists from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) carry placards during a demonstration to mark International Day Against the Death Penalty in Islamabad in this Oct 10, 2015 file photo. (Photo: AFP)
By Kamran Chaudhry
A decision by Pakistan's Senate to back the abolition of the death penalty for two crimes has sparked calls by Christian activists to end capital punishment for other offenses, including blasphemy.The call came after the Senate on July 18 approved the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, which stipulated replacing the death penalty with life sentences and fines for assault and public spoliation of a woman; and aiding the hijacking of an airplane or other public vehicle.Pakistan punishes 31 offenses with death sentences including crimes against the state and high treason; military offenses such as mutiny and misconduct in combat; violent crimes such as murder, robbery, rape, and gang rape; kidnapping for ransom; terrorism, sabotage, and hijacking.Observers say the move to revoke death penalty for two crimes is linked to Pakistan's retention of the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) from the European Union (EU).The GSP+ is a special trade status granted by the European Union that offers tariff-free access to EU markets in exchange for implementing international human rights and labor rights conventions.
Cecil Chaudhry, a South Asia team member from the UK-based human rights organization, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, welcomed the revocation of the death sentence for the two crimes as 'a step in the right direction.' A former executive director of the Pakistani Catholic bishop's National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), Chaudhry also urged the government to 'consider abolishing the death penalty for blasphemy.'
'We have witnessed that blasphemy laws are often, if not always, used to settle personal scores and so many citizens, especially religious minorities, are disproportionately affected by false accusations,' he told UCA News.
The EU has been pushing Pakistan to improve human rights and labor practices to retain its GSP+ status in EU markets.
The EU's Special Representative for Human Rights, Olof Skoog, during a visit to Islamabad in January, highlighted concerns about various issues, including the blasphemy law, women's rights, forced marriages and conversions, enforced disappearances, freedom of expression, religious freedom, media independence, due process, and the death penalty.At least 34 members of minority groups, including Christians, are on death row in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, according to Lahore-based lawyer and researcher Sarmad Ali.
Peter Jacob, director of the Lahore-based advocacy group Center for Social Justice, said the Senate's move should begin the process for legal reforms and the complete abolition of the death penalty. 'This should open a broader debate on capital punishment and respect for life,' Jacob told UCA News.'A more comprehensive legal reform is needed to limit — and eventually abolish — the death penalty,' Jacob added.
NCJP's deputy director Atta ur Rehman said Pakistan needs more reforms for its 'harsh criminal justice system.'
'The Church has always advocated for an affirmative approach to justice. Our position remains firm: the death penalty is against the sanctity of life,' Rehman Saman told UCA News.Pakistan has seen a rise in death sentences recently, sparking concerns from rights groups.
Pakistan courts handed down a total of 174 death sentences last year, a significant increase from 102 sentences in 2023, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.--ucanews.com
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