ISLAMABAD, Feb 19 (APP):An important and interesting exchange took place in the Supreme Court during the hearing of an appeal filed by a death row convict from Kasur.
During the proceedings, the father of the deceased refused to recognize his former wife, who appeared via video link from the Lahore Registry.
Justice Hashim Khan Kakar inquired about the identity of the woman appearing on video link. Counsel for the complainant informed the Court that she was the former wife of the man standing before the bench and that the deceased was their son.
Justice Kakar then asked the deceased’s father how many times he had been married. He replied that he had contracted four marriages.
A brief informal exchange followed in the courtroom. The complainant’s counsel pointed out that the father had earlier stated he had two marriages and was now claiming four, arguing that the inconsistency was incorrect.
During the hearing, the mother of the deceased expressed her desire to pardon the convict. Justice Kakar asked her why she wished to forgive the accused. She responded that she wanted to forgive him “for the sake of Allah.”
The Court further inquired whether she had been subjected to any form of pressure.
Counsel for the convict requested the Court to commute the death sentence to life imprisonment. In response, Justice Kakar observed that a written settlement agreement should first be presented before the matter could be considered.
Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim remarked that this was not an era of monarchy where decisions could be made solely on the basis of settlement agreements.
The Court directed that the next hearing of the case be held at the Lahore Registry.