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’
Three players set for ODI debuts as Pakistan face Bangladesh in series opener
- Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat and Shamyl Hussain to make international debuts in Dhaka
- Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi says Pakistan confident despite Bangladesh’s strong home record
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will hand One Day International debuts to three top-order batsmen when they face Bangladesh in the opening match of a three-game series in Dhaka today, Wednesday, with captain Shaheen Shah Afridi expressing confidence in the newcomers ahead of the contest.
Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat and Shamyl Hussain are set to earn ODI caps 255, 256 and 257 respectively, forming Pakistan’s top three in the series opener at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
“There will be three debutants for us in the first game,” Afridi told reporters ahead of the series. “Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat will open the batting, while Shamyl Hussain will bat at three.”
“I hope they will play their own game and show their skills. We are all excited to see them play for Pakistan not just for one series but future as well.”
Pakistan arrive in Bangladesh after winning their previous two ODI series at home against South Africa and Sri Lanka and held training sessions in Karachi before departing for Dhaka earlier this week.
Afridi said the team expected a competitive contest against Bangladesh, which traditionally performs strongly in home conditions.
“All the teams are very good in their home conditions and similarly Bangladesh have done well in their home ground as well,” he said. “As a team we are prepared well.”
Pakistan have historically dominated the bilateral ODI rivalry, winning 34 of the 39 matches played between the two sides, with one game ending without a result.
The three-match series marks the latest white-ball engagement between the teams after they faced each other in multiple T20I contests since May last year.
The match will begin at 1:15 p.m. Pakistan time and will be broadcast live on PTV Sports.
The two teams will play the other two ODIs on March 13 and March 15 at the same venue.
