Civil society members come out in support of capital punishment, call for ‘public’ hangings of terrorists
A number of civil society members gathered at Karachi Press Club Monday to push for more executions of terrorists and that too “publicly” after six terrorism-related convicts have so far been hanged after the government lifted a moratorium on capital punishment following the Peshawar carnage.
It should be mentioned here that international human rights organisations, including Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have slammed the government of Pakistan for lifting the moratorium.
However, the civil society members protesting outside KPC were of the view that executions were “perfectly fine”.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Deepak Parwani, a renowned textile designer present at the protest said, “Tell HRW and AI to come and live in Pakistan.”
The protesters were also holding placards and banners and candles inscribed with slogans against Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz and Taliban.
“Only Dead Taliban is Good Taliban,” read a placard.
“Love Mosques, Arrest Abdul Aziz,” read another.
The protesters said death penalty was essential to deter “crimes against humanity” in a society.
Taimoor Asif Khan, a businessman said right to life was meant for humans and not “animals like Taliban” who butchered 131 school children in Peshawar.
The protesters flayed the government for keeping “terrorists” and “so-called heroes like Mumtaz Qadri, the murderer of Punjab governor Salman Taseer” in jails for years and feeding them with taxpayers’ money.
“The government should either violate Taliban’s human rights or that of its voters,” said Taimoor.
A protester said the government would now have to move beyond condemnation statements. “We want action,” he said, adding that two to three executions were enough.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Dr Sadaf Tahir said, “Murders and homicide are crimes against humanity and warrant executions.
“Enough! No to all religious militancy,” read a handout distributed at the protest by Women Action Forum and civil society organisations. It also urges Pakistanis to “reclaim their land for peace and humanity” and “purge all forms of religious extremism and sympathisers of Taliban and jihadi politics”.
“Enough! We are reclaiming Masajids, our public freedom and private faith,” it says.
According to the handout, the forum has planned a protest demonstration Tuesday at Dawood College “against those who kill and practice violent religious politics and thrive on terrorism”.
The protesters also exercised a candle light vigil to commemorate the victims of Peshawar tragedy.
I hope the civil society of Pakistan follows through with this. Also, it should try hard to put down terrorists of all kinds – not just the ones attacking Pakistan. Because, the terrorists the government believes to be ones targeting India and West today can be the ones that will bite you tomorrow.
"Violence as a way of achieving [racial] justice is both impractical and immoral. It is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. The old law of an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends by defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers."
–Martin Luther King, Jr.
I am a big fan of Dr King but his statements don't apply to this situation. Terrorists that kill children you can not sit down in front and protest peacefully. Those animals are like Hitler's or Stalin's henchman. The world needs to purge itself of mass murderers. Peaceful protest only works in responsive democracies and the people of Pakistan have decided that enough is enough.
IF it is immoral why U.S attack Afghanistan to revenge from Taliban and ALqaida?
Doesnt the world leader in democracy, liberty and feeedom have the death penalty? Lethal injection, electric chair – state police lol when executing blacks. Lol. If its ok for america its sure as hell ok for pakistan!
Comments are closed.