Pakistanis On Death Row In Iran: Ministries Given Last Chance For Replies
Fakhir Rizvi Published September 11, 2018 | 09:41 PM
The Lahore High Court (LHC) Tuesday directed federal ministries -- Foreign Affairs, Interior and Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development for filing reply to a petition about Pakistani citizens on death row in Iranian jails.
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Sep, 2018 ) :The Lahore High Court (LHC) Tuesday directed Federal ministries Foreign Affairs, Interior and Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development for filing reply to a petition about Pakistani citizens on death row in Iranian jails.
During the proceedings, the court took serious note of non-filing of reply by the respondents despite passage of a period of five months.
Justice Shahid Waheed heard the petition, filed by Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), seeking details of Pakistanis imprisoned in Iran and the actions taken by the government in order to get their death sentences reviewed under recently amended Iranian drug laws.
Reacting to a request for grant of more time for filing the reply, the court observed that there were so many Pakistanis languishing in Iran's jails. "Don't you care about them?" he asked.
The court directed the respondent ministries for filing their replies and a list of Pakistanis on Iran's death row in two weeks.
"No further adjournment will be granted after this period," the court added.
The petitioner had requested the court to direct the Government of Pakistan to make immediate and forceful representations, as required by law, on behalf of Pakistani citizens on death row in Iran, both to secure reviews of their death sentence under the Amendment, and to ensure their extradition to Pakistan.
The JPP submitted that new Iranian drug laws entitled prisoners sentenced to death under previous standards to filing reviews; however, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Pakistan embassy in Tehran had not taken any steps to facilitate the Pakistani prisoners.
In January 2018, the Supreme Court of Iran announced that those sentenced to death for drug crimes would have their sentences commuted only if they apply for such a commutation.
The Pakistanis sentenced to death in Iran under previous standards faced imminent execution if applications for review were not filed on their behalf, it added.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Five killed, 1,351 injured in Punjab road accidents
President urges Australian companies to invest in Pakistan
Nazeer Tarar introduces (The Tax Law Amendment Bill 2024)
Spain PM under pressure as wife faces graft probe
UUVAS arranges seminar to commemorate Allama Iqbal
Vaccines save at least 154 million lives in 50 years: WHO
Young officers visit PID for briefing on govt principal public relations agency
RUDA takes stern action against pyrolysis plants, dismantles five
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken arrives in Shanghai
PM Shehbaz asked to extend hand to Imran Khan, India
BISE Hyderabad to announce HSC-Il result exams on April 25
ARI calls for comprehensive measures to curb tobacco use
More Stories From Pakistan
-
Five killed, 1,351 injured in Punjab road accidents
28 seconds ago -
President urges Australian companies to invest in Pakistan
30 seconds ago -
Nazeer Tarar introduces (The Tax Law Amendment Bill 2024)
32 seconds ago -
Young officers visit PID for briefing on govt principal public relations agency
9 minutes ago -
RUDA takes stern action against pyrolysis plants, dismantles five
9 minutes ago -
PM Shehbaz asked to extend hand to Imran Khan, India
18 minutes ago
-
ARI calls for comprehensive measures to curb tobacco use
17 minutes ago -
DWE extends training to 300,000 workers of 350 industries in twin city
17 minutes ago -
WASA disconnects 144 connections of defaulters
17 minutes ago -
Govt committed to double exports' volume in 5 years: PM
17 minutes ago -
Dacoit killed during conflict with locals
17 minutes ago -
Vietnam hails Gandhara Corridor project for cultural tourism promotion
19 minutes ago