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.