March 17
PAKISTAN:
Plea rejected: Saulat Mirza to be hanged
The Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk on Tuesday rejected Saulat Mirza'a plea through
which he had urged the Supreme Court to revisit its review about his death
penalty. An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) had awarded death sentence to Mirza in
1999 on charges of murdering the former managing director of Karachi Electric
Supply Corporation, Shahid Hamid, along with his driver, Ashraf Brohi and
guard, Akbar Khan, in July 1997, in DHA, Karachi.
On Tuesday, the Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk resumed in his chamber the hearing
of Mirza's plea who had urged the court to remove objection of the Registrar's
office. The registrar's office had refused to entertain the plea on grounds
that a review cannot be revisited. Sardar Latif Khosa, the counsel for Mirza,
appeared before the Chief Justice and pleaded that his client may be allowed to
file some additional evidence. The Chief Justice turned down the plea of Mirza
on grounds that a review cannot be revisited in a matter twice. Mirza's death
warrants have been issued for March 19 (today).
PPI adds: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday threw out a petition seeking transfer
of a convict, Saulat Mirza from Balochistan's Mach jail to Karachi. The SHC
division bench directed the Balochistan's home secretary and IG police to
ensure no hurdle is created in meeting of the convict with his family at the
Machh Jail.
The SHC bench had dismissed the appeal of the convict in 2000 whereas the apex
court had also upheld the SHC ruling. The convict's mercy appeal had also been
rejected by the president. The petitioner, Nighat, a sister of the death row
convict, had moved the court seeking his transfer from Mach jail to Karachi
Central Prison. The petitioner through her counsel submitted since the family
members of Saulat were living at Karachi, hence they were unable to go to
Balochistan to see the convict at Mach Jail.
(source: Business Recorder)
NIGERIA:
'14-year old husband killer won't escape justice'
The prosecution counsel, Lamido Abba Soron Dinki, canvassing death penalty for
14 years old child bride, Wasila Tasiu, who allegedly killed her husband and 3
others, via poisoning, has told a Kano High court, Gezawa that the suspect
could not escape justice through back door.
The position of the prosecuting counsel came on the heels of a no-case
submission by the defence counsel, Hussaina Aliyu Ibrahim, who urged the court
to acquit and discharge the accused person.
According to him, the 14-year-old bride had been standing trial over the past
10 months, for allegedly killing her husband and 3 others, through the
application of rat poison on a local delicacies she served her late husband.
The prosecution lawyer informed the court not to evaluate his evidence, given
the fact that the defence counsel was yet to begin his defence.
While arguing over the issue, the state counsel noted that "the issue about the
credibility of our witnesses does not even arise because the law said the
testimony of our witnesses should only be treated on case value."
Abba Soron Dinki cited Supreme Court judgement on Agbo versus the state in 2013
that "a no case submission should be determined within the narrow compass of
the legally admissible evidence produced by the prosecution and as such should
be based on a case value."
He submitted that the no-case submission couldn't stand in the case under
review, adding that such step would pave the way for the accused persons to
escape justice through back door.
The court has, however, reserved ruling for March 31, on whether Wasila Tasiu,
has a case to answer under the law or not.
The presiding Judge, Justice Muhammad Yahaya, in his ruling said, that "the
court hereby fix March 31st for ruling on the application by the defence
counsel on the no-case submission on behalf of Wasila Tasiu."
(source: The Tribune)
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