SC commutes death sentences of mentally disabled inmates
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February 11, 2021
LAHORE: Two mentally disabled prisoners on death row had their sentences commuted by the Supreme Court on Wednesday in what activists called a landmark judgment on mental illness.
The court ordered Kanizan Bibi and Imdad Ali to be transferred to a mental health facility, and asked for the case of a third inmate facing execution to be reviewed. It also called for the establishment of a medical board to vet inmates for mental illness in capital cases.
“We hold that if a condemned prisoner, due to mental illness, is found to be unable to comprehend the rationale and reason behind his/her punishment, then carrying out the death sentence will not meet the ends of justice,” said the Supreme Court in its ruling.
SC offers relief to mentally ill convicts
Commutes death sentence of two prisoners to life imprisonment
Supreme Court. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
ISLAMABAD/
LAHORE:
In a landmark verdict, the top court has commuted the death sentence of two mentally challenged patients – who have been behind bars for decades – to life imprisonment while also asking the authorities to avoid a limited definition of mental disorders.
A five-judge larger bench presided over by Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik issued a 51-page judgment on petitions filed by the families of convicts after hearing the case at the Supreme Court Lahore Registry. Without touching on the mental health condition of the convict Imdad Ali, we have observed that there are sufficient reasons and circumstances available on record that warrant the conversion of the prisoner s death sentence to imprisonment for life, stated the verdict released on Wednesday.
SC halts death sentence of mentally ill prisoners
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February 11, 2021
LAHORE: Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday ruled that death sentence of a condemned prisoner would not be carried out if he/she is unable, due to mental illness, to understand the rationale and reason behind his/her punishment.
“We hold that if a condemned prisoner, due to mental illness, is found to be unable to comprehend the rationale and reason behind his/her punishment, carrying out the death sentence will not meet the ends of justice,” says a judgment announced by a five-judge bench of the apex court at the Lahore registry.
Islamabad, Pakistan – In a landmark verdict, Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ruled that imposing the death penalty on prisoners living with a serious mental illness, particularly those who do not understand the nature of the punishment, “will not meet the ends of justice”.
The ruling was issued by the Supreme Court on Wednesday after the five-member bench had earlier reserved its verdict in the appeals of three prisoners living with mental illnesses against their convictions.
“[W]e hold that if a condemned prisoner, due to mental illness, is found to be unable to comprehend the rationale and reason behind his/her punishment, then carrying out the death sentence will not meet the ends of justice,” reads the judgement, which effectively bans the use of the death penalty for those living with a serious mental illness.