Terrorism nourishes and thrives in a country where crime friendly environment exists, where corruption thrives, illegal weapons are available, judiciary is not independent, law enforcement is scared of criminals, establishment and politicians have ties with mafias, organised crime become tax-free business and individuals prevail over laws. International crime mafia, exploiting religion or ethnicity for local recruitment, run extortion and kidnapping for ransom groups in every country, where black economy is stronger than documented economy and profits earned can be transferred to foreign sponsors.
Saulat Mirza, responsible for brutal target killings of 58 innocent Pakistanis, including Late Malik Shahid Hamid, former MD KESC, his guard and driver, who fell victims to his bullets on July 5, 1997, in DHA, Karachi and Major (retd) Shahnawaz Toor, local head of US Drug Enforcement Agency in 1995, has once again escaped execution because of political pressure and compromises in getting crucial votes for the 21st Amendment. If this is how executions are to be subject to ‘ifham-o-tafheem’, where crime instead of being punished becomes an issue for negotiations that this country has witnessed in Karachi, then terrorism with all its miseries is here to stay, in one form or another.
Late Shahid Hamid’s widow was forced to flee Pakistan because powerful members of organised crime mafia with strong political backing had threatened to kill her because in their opinion she committed cardinal sin by recognising her husband’s killer. Saulat survived, planning and ordering target killings of more innocent Pakistanis from his cell while his victim’s next of kin had to flee this country. If this is the way terrorists are to be handled then may God Almighty have mercy on Pakistan!
ALI MALIK TARIQ
Lahore
The writer has not given the real reason for the postponement of execution of this mass murderer. There are more than 8,000 convicts on death rows are waiting to be executed. Why have they not been hanged ? All these criminals are enjoying life in the Jail cells. They are availing all kind of facilities. Our Judiciary is now independent, and has exerted their independence under the tutelage of Iftikhar Chaudhry.
We should not drag the politicians and judges into such matters.
The blame game serves no good purpose at all. We must point out the flaws of the entire system. Our police does not function well. There pays were raised and other facilities were given to them , but no improvement has been made by them. We need to revamp the entire Police Force.
Prosecution arm needs to be strengthened. There is need for improvement in this area too. There are other factors too , that need to be looked into. Military court is not the answer, we need to strengthen and improve the working of various government departments. WE must execute all the convicts sentenced to death.
The writer has a point, because Saulat Mirza's death warrant have been issued, but his execution held back on advice of Federal Govt to Sind Government. Obviously his political masters MQM have put the pressure on them and this is immoral, illegal and discriminatory. All terrorists must be executed, once found guilty and condemned by legally constituted court.
The point is why execution of a man accused of such heinous crimes was postponed on advice of Fed Govt to Sind after his death warrant was issued.
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