ISLAMABAD: A United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) committee adopted a draft resolution demanding a moratorium on death penalty, the APP news agency reported on Sunday, as Pakistan and several other countries voted against it for undermining the principle of state sovereignty.
Pakistan lifted the death penalty moratorium after a militant attack on a school in December 2014 in which more than a hundred children lost their lives.
Initially, it only resumed executions for people involved in terrorism offenses, though it later extended it to all capital cases.
Explaining Pakistan’s decision to vote against the draft resolution upheld by the UNGA’s 193-member Third Committee, a Pakistani delegate, Muhammad Rashid, said his country did not agree with its overall framework.
The Pakistani official maintained there was no international consensus for or against the death penalty, adding it was therefore every country’s right to decide its own law dealing with the issue.
“Death penalty when applied in accordance with due process of law and judicial safeguards, does not infringe on any other human right,” he maintained, adding that the “right to life must be protected for the victims of horrific and most serious crimes as well.”
Earlier, while speaking on behalf of the European Union, Czech Republic said all regional states were pushing for the draft resolution since capital punishment failed to deter criminal behavior.
“Justice systems are run by humans and are therefore exposed to mistakes and aggravated by social stigmas and political pressure, particularly in countries with no independent judiciary,” the EU statement said, adding “the death penalty primarily affects poorer persons and those belonging to marginalized groups.”
The draft resolution would call on countries to progressively restrict use of capital punishment, ensure it was not applied on the basis of discriminatory laws, improve detention conditions and establish a moratorium on executions to ultimately abolish the death penalty.
The resolution was accepted after 126 countries voted in its favor while 37 opposed it. There were also 24 abstentions.
Pakistan votes against UN draft resolution calling for death penalty moratorium
https://arab.news/ngzs9
Pakistan votes against UN draft resolution calling for death penalty moratorium
- The EU pushed for the draft resolution, saying capital punishment failed to deter criminal behavior
- Pakistan said the ‘right to life must be protected for the victims of horrific and most serious crimes as well’
Pakistan PM to attend World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Switzerland next month
- The WEF meeting, scheduled to be held in Davos on Jan. 19-23, will focus on global challenges, public-private dialogue and cooperation
- Government, business, civil society and academia leaders will engage in forward-looking discussions to address these issues, set priorities
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to Switzerland next month to attend the 56th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Pakistani state media reported on Monday.
The WEF annual meeting, themed as ‘A Spirit of Dialogue,’ will be held from Jan. 19 to Jan. 23 in Davos, where world leaders from government, business, civil society and academia will engage in forward-looking discussions to address global issues and set priorities.
Prime Minister Sharif is expected to interact with global leaders and investors on economic challenges, regional and international issues and various opportunities for cooperation.
On Monday, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar presided over a meeting in Islamabad to oversee preparations for Sharif’s upcoming visit to Switzerland to attend the WEF meeting, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“Dar instructed to maximize the engagements with the incoming Heads of States, Governments and senior leadership of economic, business and financial institutions,” the report read.
The WEF meeting program will be structured around key global challenges where public-private dialogue and cooperation, involving all stakeholders, is necessary for progress, according to the WEF website.
In addressing these challenges, growth, resilience and innovation will serve as cross-cutting imperatives, guiding how leaders engage with today’s complexity and pursue tomorrow’s opportunities.
Pakistani foreign ministry officials briefed the deputy PM about preparations for the WEF meeting, according to Radio Pakistan. The participants of Monday’s meeting in Islamabad discussed in detail the bilateral component and media engagements during the visit.
“He [Dar] further stressed that opportunities be explored to foster collaboration with private sector business entities,” the state broadcaster said.
