AHRC URGES PAKISTAN GOVERNMENT TO RATIFY CABINET DECISION OF COMMUTING DEATH SENTENCE

the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission urged the Pakistani government of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani to immediately ratify the decision of the cabinet to commute death sentences in to life imprisonment so as to make it a law. The necessary amendment should also be made to the constitution after approval by the assembly, the AHRC said in a release. The rights organisation noted that executions continue despite decision of federal cabinet to commute sentences. During the previous seven days at least four people were executed by hanging in different cities of Pakistan despite the decision of the federal cabinet on July 2, 2008, to commute all death sentences to life imprisonment.