FAISALABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) turned down on Monday the out-of-court settlement of death row prisoner Ikramul Haq, alias Lahori.

On Jan 8, the execution of Lahori was halted at the eleventh hour at the Kot Lakhpat jail, Lahore, when his family informed the judicial magistrate that the aggrieved party had pardoned him.

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The reported settlement was referred back to the ATC for its confirmation.

Lahori was handed down death sentence in 2001 by a special anti-terrorism court of Faisalabad for murdering Nayyar Abbas. Altaf Husain Shah is a plaintiff in this case.

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The judge scrapped the settlement as out of eight family members of Abbas, his two brothers and a sister appeared before the judge. The court will issue fresh death warrants only when the superintendent of the central jail seeks them.

Published in Dawn January 13th , 2014

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