PAKISTAN. PETITION CHALLENGING DEATH SENTENCE IN GANG RAPE CASES ADJOURNED

the Shariat Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court, Islamabad, Pakistan, adjourned the hearing on a petition challenging the death sentences of four convicts for gang rape under Section 10 (4) of the Zina Ordinance. The four had been due to be hanged on December 21, 2005 but had recieved a sospension of execution.
Shahzad alias Shado, Muhammad Ashraf, Umer Hayat and Mubarak Ali had been sentenced to death by the Faisalabad Anti-Terrorist Court on charges of raping a Christian girl, Saima Bibi, in Faisalabad in 1999. The sentence was upheld by the Lahore High Court as well as the Supreme Court and a mercy petition filed before the President of the Pakistan had also been dismissed despite the fact that the parents of the rape victim had forgiven the rapists.