April 03, 2008	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 25, 1429

KARACHI, April 2: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has condemned the stoning to death of a couple in Fata and demanded that all those involved in the ‘barbaric’ act be arrested, tried and punished under the law.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, HRCP co-chairperson Iqbal Haider said that the couple – Shano of Mohmand Agency and Daulat Khan of Bara – were accused of adultery and stoned to death by militants in Khwezai-Baezai which was not only against recognised Islamic injunctions but was also in violation of the Constitution and such acts and practices caused incalculable harm to the image and reputation of both Islam and Pakistan in the civilised world.

He said that under Articles 246 and 247 of the Constitution all tribal areas were part of Pakistan and were under executive authority of the federal government and the president and provincial governor are fully competent to issue directives and apply such laws of Pakistan in the tribal area, as considered necessary for the peace and good governance of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas.