Confusion persists over hanging of SSP activist as parties 'reach compromise'
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LAHORE: Confusion persists over the execution of Ikramul Haq, an activist of the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), who was scheduled to be hanged early on Thursday. The hanging was reportedly delayed at the 11th hour after an agreement was reached between the plaintiff and the defendant.
Haq was set to be hanged at Kot Lakhpat Central Jail early today and all arrangements had been finalised in this regard.
An anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad had awarded the death sentence to Haq in 2004 in connection with killing a man in an Imambargah (Shorkot) and had issued his death warrants a couple of days ago.
Counsel for the death row convict, Advocate Ghulam Mustafa, told Dawn that after his client's sentencing by the ATC, he had approached the high court as well as the apex court to appeal against the decision.
He said he had also appealed to the President of Pakistan for a pardon but it was turned down.
Explore: Call to repeal Qisas, Diyat ordinance
After black warrants were issued for Haq's execution, the counsel said he approached the complainant and the two sides had managed to reach a compromise.
Advocate Mustafa added that both parties again approached the high court and were told to approach Judicial Magistrate Imran Ishaq with their plea.
Haq's counsel told Dawn an application was submitted with the magistrate late on Wednesday night.
The counsel added that the plaintiff and four others (related to the deceased) had been summoned along with their CNICs to appear before the judicial magistrate to verify that the compromise was not reached through force or by coercion.
Mustafa said the execution was expected to be delayed and then a high trial court could decide the matter of sentencing. "I am 100 per cent sure the execution would be delayed," Haq's counsel said.
Both parties appeared in front of the judicial magistrate this morning and their meeting was still under way.
Security in and around the jail, which is likely to witness its first execution after the lifting of a moratorium on capital punishments on the prime minister’s orders, has been beefed up.
Ikramul Haq was convicted for killing Nayyar Abbas, a guard of Altaf Shah of the banned Sipah-i-Muhammad at an imambargah in Jhang district’s Shorkot tehsil in 2001. Both Haq and Shah hail from Jhang.
Haq's family members paid him a visit at the jail on Wednesday.
More on this: LHC condemns killer despite ‘pardon’
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (78) Closed
Jan 08, 2015 09:38am
Here we go again.....
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Jan 08, 2015 09:38am
Somethin doesnt sound right here...
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Jan 08, 2015 09:42am
No comment. Sad, pathetic and a black day if the pardon goes through. We then collectively deserve want us happening, perhaps.
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Jan 08, 2015 09:44am
What a farce justice system! The sad thing is, since their is no law, their will be zero lessons learnt!
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Jan 08, 2015 09:47am
How can a dead person (i.e. the victim) reach a compromise?
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Jan 08, 2015 09:50am
Plain mockery of Judiciary!
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Jan 08, 2015 09:51am
Just bcos he was a guard, his life has no value?
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Jan 08, 2015 09:52am
Good news. I hope this man redeems his past by changing himself and promoting intrasect harmony after being pardoned.
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Jan 08, 2015 09:54am
In a lawless society, where state abdicate its responsibility, what weak and helpless can do, except surrender to the Mafia, in this case powerful groups of religious extremists e.g. SS group. Can current laws, weak and thinned down can provide protection to the minorities, both Muslims and non Muslims is doubtful. Jury is still out. People in power must understand, now sort it out or future of Pakistan is serious to say the lest.
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Jan 08, 2015 09:58am
This is absurd. If this guy is set free how many more lives will he take. There should be no option of any deals for anyone involved in these kind of violent acts.
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Jan 08, 2015 10:08am
This is why we need military courts. My hope is government will intervene and let justice take its course.
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Jan 08, 2015 10:10am
In cases of terrorism there should be no provision of compromise. We need to punish the terrorists and set an example. Besides I am sure the complainants would have been terrorized by the banned Sipah e Sahabe to reach a compromise.
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Jan 08, 2015 10:10am
Poor victims family, they must have been forced to do this on the 11th hour. They should still hang him.
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Jan 08, 2015 10:18am
still confused
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Jan 08, 2015 10:22am
How can individuals be the plaintiffs in a terrorism acts at an imambargah? The state should be the plaintiff in such case...
This is strange. There can be no agreement if a person commits an act of terror of this sort, as it was not committed against the people who died but everyone there.
This just sounds like another person being let go without paying for his crimes because of people within the system who are terrorism sympathisers
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Jan 08, 2015 10:22am
This guy was involved in the murder of multiple people. How can reconciliation with one family delay his execution? If this selective justice continues, Pakistan will not be able to tackle terrorism.
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Jan 08, 2015 10:28am
If terrorists will be allowed to be free by convincing or forcing relatives of the victim then they will do the same act again. If the relatives were willing to forgive him willingly they did that way earlier. PK laws are not transparent and chances of foul play is higher.
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Jan 08, 2015 10:30am
Unbelievable, I am just speechless! This despicable person didn't just killed one person, but so many, than why would the decision be based on one family?
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Jan 08, 2015 10:34am
Another death warrant being held back, case for military courts becomes stronger. Haq is a terrorist and he will never change.
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Jan 08, 2015 10:35am
If the court start allowing settlement of such cases, then terror will continue to persist. Families will be coerced into setteling the convictions. These cases are not person specific that sharia law would apply, these are cases against the nation and no settlement should be allowed.
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Jan 08, 2015 10:38am
Sad News for the deceased.
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Jan 08, 2015 10:44am
Let's see whether sense prevails at govt level or this murderer will be released. Punishment must be based on motives and clearly this was sectarian based, non pardon able
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Jan 08, 2015 10:53am
Compromise? What sort of compromise. He was involved in a terrorist activity, the state has to punish him even if anyone forgives him personally or not. These laws need to change. One can get away with anything with such compromises.
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Jan 08, 2015 11:06am
If relatives of deceased were truly willing to forgive SSP terrorist then they did so way earlier. Having such favor at last minute indicates the banned out fit (SSP) has created exceptional pressure over family of deceased to forgive this terrorist. A country where live and honour of an ordinary person is not protected and where banned out fits are dancing on streets with ease a poor family of decease can not face another criminal offense against them. :(
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Jan 08, 2015 11:11am
Do not confuse cowardice with confusion.
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Jan 08, 2015 11:19am
must be using pressure tactics, May God help this country.
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Jan 08, 2015 11:19am
This is stupid.
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Jan 08, 2015 11:19am
what sort of journalism is this where comments need to be moderated ; don't you believe on freedom of speech
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Jan 08, 2015 11:22am
Why laws always come to save criminals......
If criminal ask that they will kill all family members of deceased, who these family member will not pardon criminals???
State should abolish this right given to deceased family.
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Jan 08, 2015 11:29am
This is not the notorious AKRAM LAHORI co founder of LEJ
Media is confused since yesterday.
Do you people have any idea what happened pre-2005. Shameful.
The real Akram Lahori looks nothing like this guy. And I cannot find out his status.
Or the picture is wrong.
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Jan 08, 2015 11:30am
One-upmanship by the convicted and condemned murderer.
What answer do we have to the situation where the aggrieved is forced at gun point to compromise?
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Jan 08, 2015 11:31am
The act of terrorism can not be settled between the families. This is the responsibility of state to decide how to tackle terrorism. This was clearly the act of terrorism and family can not forgive this crime by law and shariah.
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Jan 08, 2015 11:33am
Another reason for the military court..
Pardon after decades?? Sounds like there is no difference between these guys and Raymond Davis "bought" pardon
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Jan 08, 2015 11:35am
If this guy lahorei is danger for society put him behind bars for life courts should be given such powers by legislation.
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Jan 08, 2015 11:36am
I am losing hope fast. All Litmus tests are failing. The State is relenting in all these cases. The lack/slowness of action is shameful:
- Maulana Abdul Aziz - not arrested in spite of non-bailabl warrants and open threats of violence
- Malik Ishaq - Released
- Zakiur Rahman Lakhvi - granted bail by IHC
- Aamir Liaquat - Allowed to continue to spread his agenda despite repeated blatant hate speech and vulgar language
- Akram Lahori - Hanging delayed due to a shady last minute 'deal'.
Looks like less than a month after the Peshawar Attacks, we have already forgotten those who laid their lives, and determination to eliminate all forms of terrorism have given way to prudence and safety first. It is back to the pre 16/12 normal. That is sad, indeed.
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Jan 08, 2015 11:37am
Seriously?
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Jan 08, 2015 11:39am
Relatives should havr no right to forgive the killer. Killer should pay the price of what he/she did with life imprisonment or death penalty, plain and simple. There should be no question about it.
Don't throw Islamic law at me. We seems to pick and choose as we see convenient.
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Jan 08, 2015 11:51am
Every one knows that all it happend at the eleventh hour due to threat issued to the deceased family
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Jan 08, 2015 11:55am
@A Pakistani : Why should he have this luxury? None of his victims were extended that choice! He should be put behind bars and back in the gallows as soon as possible. Only then true justice will be served.
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Jan 08, 2015 12:03pm
Surely the founder of SSP and LEJ is involved in other crimes and not just one single murder. Akram Lahori has terrorised people for years before he was picked up. How can this be just one act on which parties have reached a settlement. He is a declared enemy of the state.
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Jan 08, 2015 12:20pm
Any release in this case will open the floodgates of pressure on family members of other victims to reach a 'compromise'. This precedent therefore needs to be nipped in the bud.
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Jan 08, 2015 12:22pm
After watching NS breakfast and lunch cuisine on his Bahrain outing one can rest assured nothing has changed and nothing will change. Whatever small steps have been taken it is due to shear pressure from Army. Still they amount to too late too little.
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Jan 08, 2015 12:41pm
What a joke
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Jan 08, 2015 12:44pm
This shows the spine of government to go against these hardened criminals.
Akram Lahori has repeatedly claimed the killings of several people with pride, and yet a compromise has been reached.
We all know how a compromise would be reached in such situation, by intimidating the relatives of victim
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Jan 08, 2015 12:55pm
Litmus test for the sacred judiciary. Let's see if we need the military court or not.
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Jan 08, 2015 12:56pm
This photo is not of the person who is suppose to be hanged today.............where is that guy named akram lahori gone? why he is not hanged? he was involved in more than 30 sectarian killing including attacks on iranian cadets, and murdering iranian ambassador sadiq gunji. who is this guy whose picture is shown in media now and what is the real story? who is behind all this?
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Jan 08, 2015 12:59pm
@Jawad U Rahman . These groups has supports of Muslim countries who called themselves our "Brothers".
One phone call is good enough to release anyone.
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Jan 08, 2015 01:03pm
This guy doesnot seem like a dreaded criminal - unlike Lakhvi. Looks can be deceptive though
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Jan 08, 2015 01:04pm
Court should disallow this agreement as terrorism is a crime against the people of Pakistan and victims family cannot pardon such an offense. Terrorist should have thought better before he pre meditated his crime pure Evil!
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Jan 08, 2015 01:04pm
Justice delayed and therefore was denied!
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Jan 08, 2015 01:07pm
@Ahmad What compromise? Strange justice system.
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Jan 08, 2015 01:12pm
Only the Shariat Court of the Islamic Ideology Council should be competent to determine if this case really qualifies for Diyat (Blood Money). The motive behind murder being sectarian, the murder by the convict can not probably be taken as an act of an individual due to some kind of personal grievance, revenge or any other emotional reason personally affecting the convict. As a member of an organized group, he was probably fulfilling the nefarious manifesto of that group against a Muslim, belonging to a sect different from his own, through premeditated murder. This may well qualify to be judged as "Fisaad" or "crime against humanity". However, this is a matter to be decided on the basis of established Islamic Jurisprudence, and not by a Magistrate.
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Jan 08, 2015 01:20pm
More of a reason why military courts are imperative
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Jan 08, 2015 01:21pm
We the people should now ask if the govt. is with us or with the terrorists.
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Jan 08, 2015 01:32pm
Mockery of law
Gives encouragement to criminals
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Jan 08, 2015 01:48pm
It time to repeal these laws that provide such loopholes to these criminals.
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Jan 08, 2015 01:52pm
Politicians are continuously showing a lack of resolve and courage. The only executions carried out are army men who were court martialled. And then the civil society is raising hue and cry on establishment of military courts. Does anyone seriously believe we can get these people ever punished under civil administration?
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Jan 08, 2015 02:10pm
I think, these people can intimidate people with guns and force them in to forgiveness
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Jan 08, 2015 02:11pm
What compromise? Civil courts at their best. We want Military Courts!
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Jan 08, 2015 02:22pm
A murder as a result of a conflict over land ,money,women should be differentiated from a murder as a result of a hate crime based on sectarianism ,religious bias, terrorism and that as a result of criminal intent like kidnapping for ransom/demand for ransom, theft,rape/gang rape, drug paddling, bank robbery etc.The later set of crimes should be deemed to have been committed against the people at large putting their collective lives in danger and denting their collective sense of well being,security, mental health and confidence.A feeling of being unsafe in ones own country,town, home or backyard,to my mind is the worst type of insecurity one can endure. A law ,therefore ,should be enacted differentiating between the two very different type of crimes by nature and an out of the court settlement/pardon should be banned.
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Jan 08, 2015 02:28pm
What is bad in it if both parties are reached on an agreement. If a person feels guilt and want to live a peaceful life who are we to snatch this right from him.Prophet (pbuh) had forgiven his own uncle's murderer and gave him chance to live his life
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Jan 08, 2015 02:37pm
I hope military intervenes!!
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Jan 08, 2015 02:53pm
@A Pakistani Why pardon a convicted murderer? Statistically a high percentage of criminals re offend. Can you suggest a way of bringing the murdered man back and what he should do once raised from the dead? We are not and should not become Saudi Arabia and offer the criminal's relative the option to purchase his way out of criminality by giving monetary compensation to the victims relatives. One can never be certain of victim's relatives motivation.
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Jan 08, 2015 03:05pm
What a joke
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Jan 08, 2015 03:07pm
So, the horrific injustice of the Zia period's so-called "Islamic" legislation is once more apparent if this convicted killer walks free - as Raymond .Davis and others have done. Raza Rabbani, why have you been sleeping?
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Jan 08, 2015 03:09pm
Of course the family will compromise. These terrorists are powerful and if this one is let go then others will threaten the families to compromise too. Our parliament and judiciary have proven time and time again that they are a waste. Time for military to do what's best
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Jan 08, 2015 03:18pm
This concept has been abused to the core.
The victim's family are not the only plaintiff. The government and the public is the plaintiff in this case.
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Jan 08, 2015 03:24pm
A terrorist is an enemy of state and complainant alone is not entitled to pardon his heinous crime, on any ground.
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Jan 08, 2015 03:53pm
Selective justice will be biggest hurdle on over coming current crisis in the country.A killer must be hanheg at all cost even if their relatives forgive him, as it is not just the matter if those relatime but a crime against state as well
Will we ever learn our learn by our action nit just by hollow empty talks on daily basis on mews papers and mews chamnels
Actoon speaks louder then words.
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Jan 08, 2015 04:56pm
Justice must be provided as per law. The parties can only compromise if the murder had no link with terrorism; otherwise the accused cannot be pardoned. The decision should be made as per law to provide justice; not under any pressure.
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Jan 08, 2015 06:15pm
@SGN
There is nothing to be sarcastic here. Compromise is between family of the deceased and the accused as agreed by the family of the accused. No one had the courage to speak when the same law was used to free a US national by Pakistan. And now so many criticizing it. What a hypocrite world?
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Jan 08, 2015 06:24pm
Coercion or payment to plaintiff - What if accused's family can't afford to pay plaintiff ?
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Jan 09, 2015 12:30am
Obviously they threatened the family to get him pardoned. Our judiciary is despicable.
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Jan 09, 2015 02:43am
His crime was against humanity and state is involved. He doesn't qualifies for Diyat (Blood Money).
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Jan 09, 2015 02:46am
@Riaz his crime is against humanity and state. He killed people not for personal enmity but as a terrorist. Same was true for US nationals who were released using this fake reasoning and given VIP departure at Lahore airport.
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Jan 10, 2015 12:08am
Shame on our judicial system.
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Jan 10, 2015 04:53am
@T Khan According to law in all criminal cases the Plaintiff is always the state but in Pakistan any thing can happen.
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Jan 11, 2015 01:44am
that is why army was asking to establish military courts.... he is murderer and terrorist. state should not let him go....
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