Pakistan quite unequivocally stated earlier today that lifting the moratorium on death penalty was not in violation of any international human rights laws.
“Pakistan has its own Constitution and legal system which contains death penalty within the parameters of international laws,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said, during her weekly press briefing in Islamabad, according to Radio Pakistan.
Responding to the European Union’s concerns on capital punishment in Pakistan, the spokesperson added, “It is the fundamental right of the State to protect the lives of its people.”
The moratorium was partially lifted following the December 16 terrorist attack on the Army Public School, and sentences were carried out for those convicted in terror cases. So far,dozens of hardened terrorists and murderers have been executed.
The government recently decided to also lift the moratorium for those on death row for non-terror convictions.
“According to Article 6 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights every human being has the right to live and that this right should be protected by law. The actions that Pakistan is taking are in pursuance to this article in order to protect the lives of the people,” Aslam claimed.
The spokesperson said Pakistan is engaged with the European Union and clarified its perspective on the matter.
Aslam maintained the European Union also understands Pakistan’s position under which it has removed the moratorium on death sentence.
“This issue will not impact the EU GSP plus status for Pakistan,” she added.
The EU called on Pakistan to re-institute the moratorium and to respect fully all its international obligations, in particular the principle of fair trial.
The EU is against capital punishment in all cases and without exception, and has consistently called for its universal abolition all over the world.
