Carol Anne Grayson (Radical Sister) blog

The hanging of a paralyzed Pakistani man, which had been expected to take place before dawn today (local time) has not gone ahead, after a magistrate issued a last-minute stay of execution.

Abdul Basit, who has been paralyzed from the waist down since contracting meningitis in jail and receiving inadequate treatment, was due to be hanged by around 05:30 local time / 00:30 GMT today (Tuesday 22 September).

Basit’s lawyers at Justice Project Pakistan had raised concerns that, because Pakistan’s Prison Rules do not provide for the hanging of people unable to stand, his execution could have been botched, resulting in prolonged suffering. It would therefore have violated both the prison rules and the country’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court handed down an order yesterday which stated that the hanging must comply with the prison rules – something described by human rights organization Reprieve as an “impossible task,” given the absence of any provision for hanging someone who requires a wheelchair. Around an hour before the hanging was due to take place, the judicial magistrate responsible for supervising it issued a stay, on the basis that prison officials believed the execution could not be carried out without violating the rules.

A further decision on how to proceed in Basit’s case now rests with the provincial government of Punjab.

Commenting, Kate Higham, Pakistan caseworker at Reprieve, said: “It is welcome that the Punjab government has apparently seen sense and stopped this hanging from going ahead. There was a real risk that Basit could have faced horrific, prolonged torment – violating both the prison’s own rules and Pakistan’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The Punjab government is to be congratulated on their humane and just decision to stay Basit’s execution.”

ENDS

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights, WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court has refused to grant a stay of execution to a paraplegic man set to be hanged tomorrow (Tuesday), despite fears that hanging someone from their wheelchair may breach the country’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.

At a hearing today at Pakistan’s Supreme Court, the court refused to order a stay of execution for Abdul Basit, 43, who is paralyzed from the waist down and uses a wheelchair. The court has ordered that the hanging must comply with the Pakistan Prison Rules. However, because the procedures set out in those rules only provide for prisoners who are able to stand, any attempt to hang Basit could see him either facing decapitation or prolonged strangulation.

According to Basit’s lawyers at Justice Project Pakistan, the judges today ignored the inadequacy of the prison guidelines, with one judge remarking that Pakistan’s courts “cannot oversee every execution,” and claiming that there is no way for the Supreme Court to know how many executions have not been carried out in the prescribed manner. Justice Dost Mohammed Khan told the court that he was aware of at least one botched hanging that had already taken place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in which a miscalculation of the prisoner’s weight caused the rope to break. He said that the man subsequently received treatment and was hanged again within 24 hours.

Basit has been paralyzed since he contracted meningitis while in prison, which was not properly treated. The Supreme Court failed to take issue with the Lahore High Court’s position that international law should not be taken into account in his case.

Yesterday, Basit’s mother publicly begged the Pakistani Government to stop the hanging, saying “Who says that this is justice? How can they do this to a paralyzed man? Please have mercy on my son.”

The Presidency is capable of halting the execution, but has yet to respond to a mercy petition filed by Basit’s lawyers.

Commenting, Maya Foa, director of the death penalty team at human rights organization Reprieve, said:

“The court has set the prison an impossible task – there is no way of hanging Basit according to the rules, leaving the real risk that he will face a needlessly cruel and horrific execution.  This would be in direct violation of Pakistan’s domestic and international commitments, and show that its claims to be living up to human rights standards are false. If international law is to have any meaning, the international community must stand up against this outrage and call on the President of Pakistan to halt the execution of Abdul Basit without delay.”

ENDS

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights, WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

The family of a paraplegic death row prisoner in Pakistan have begged the authorities to cancel plans to execute him this Tuesday (22nd).

Abdul Basit, 43, is paralyzed from the waist down as a result of an illness he contracted in prison that was left untreated. A recent jail medical report confirmed that he is “bed-bound” with “almost no chance of recovery.” Pakistan’s Jail Manual gives no instructions on how to execute disabled prisoners, and Basit’s lawyers have petitioned the government to grant him mercy, on the basis that his execution would constitute cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment – prohibited under Pakistani and international law.

At a recent hearing at the Lahore High Court, the judge ruled that Basit could legally be hanged, and commented that “international laws should be kept aside” when considering whether prisoners on Pakistan’s 8000-strong death row should be executed.

Speaking yesterday to lawyers at Justice Project Pakistan, Basit’s family begged the government to grant mercy. His mother said: “My son has already suffered a lot. He is half dead. It was all because of the jail authorities that he is disabled today. I appeal to Pakistan’s President for mercy.

“I am not educated but I know and I am sure this is not what Islam teaches – this is not what the law tells. Can’t they see that he has suffered for years? Who says that this is justice? How can they do this to a paralyzed man? Please have mercy on my son.”

Pakistan has executed nearly 250 people since resuming executions in December 2014. Recent reports have suggested that the vast majority of those killed have had no links to terrorism, despite a claim by the authorities to be hanging ‘terrorists.’ Among the prisoners hanged so far have been juveniles, mentally ill prisoners, and people with strong claims of innocence.

Commenting, Maya Foa, director of the death penalty team at human rights organization Reprieve, said:

“It is outrageous that the authorities are pushing ahead with their plans to hang Basit, and that the courts are now accepting the government’s argument that Pakistan’s international obligations can be openly flouted. This execution will be a grotesque spectacle, and – like the hundreds of hangings before it – will bring neither justice nor security to Pakistan. The international community must call on Pakistan to respect international law and halt this execution without delay. ”

ENDS

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights, WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Ehsanullah Ehsan spokesperson for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taliban Jamaat ul-Ahrar (TTP JA) updated international media on latest attacks as follows:-

2o.9.2015

“Yesterday night around 1 o’clock, in adjoining areas of Shabqadar and Mohmand agency in Tehsil Charsada, three missiles were fired at Hawala House police station, which landed dead centre of the police station. In this many policemen were killed and injured and the station was also partially destroyed. The responsibility of this is taken by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (Jamat ul Ahrar)”

Central Spokesperson (Ehsanullah Ehsan) Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan “Jamat ul Ahrar”

End

Previous 19.9 2015

“In area Doezai Tehsil Pindyali of Mohmand Agency, a remote control bomb targeted two members of peace committee Muhammad Afzal and Nawab in which both were killed. The responsibility of the killing is with the Jamat ul Ahrar of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. Our objective is for the universal promotion of Islamic system. To achieve this the attacks will continue and enemies of Islam will continue to be targeted. Allah willing.”

Spokesperson : Ehsan ullah Ehsan Threek-e-Taliban (Jamat ul Ahrar)

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights, WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights, WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Badaber attack.. (Image TTP Umar Media)

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) have released a statement disputing official accounts of the recent attack on Badaber Air Force base near Peshawar (see following link for earlier details of attack)

“Pakistan: TTP remain a potent force launching an attack on Badaber Air Force base, Peshawar”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/09/19/pakistan-taliban-ttp-remain-a-potent-force-launching-an-attack-badaber-air-force-base-peshawar/

Muhammad Khurrasani, spokesperson for TTP dissects a number of discrepancies point by point as follows,

TTP statement 

1. Taliban attackers came in a Suzuki car. The chassis number of the vehicle has been obtained. – ISPR

Muhammad Khurrasani: Taliban entered the camp in two VIP cars and the govt still does not know about these two vehicles. Because you cannot accommodate 14 people who are heavily armed in one Suzuki and enter a high security zone. Was the whole KPK security asleep? Were all the people at the security check post blind?

2. Taliban attackers were wearing Militia uniforms and wearing white shoes – ISPR

Muhammad Khurrasani: When the attack was at PAF base, then why were they wearing Militia uniform, do the Militia forces wear white shoes? Those who carried out this attack were they stupid? Do the Militia forces move about in Suzuki now-a- days? ISPR has made an ultimate fool of themselves with this statement.

3. The attackers who were killed were carrying fake Air Force ID cards. – ISPR

Muhammad Khurrasani: If the service cards were of PAF, then why were they wearing Militia uniforms? If the cards were of PAF then obviously the uniform was also according to the Air Force base and the vehicles which were not stopped anywhere by anyone and possibly they even managed to successfully get back out also. Because so far ISPR has no proof of these vehicles that were used in the attack.

4. All 13 terrorists have been killed. – ISPR

Muhammad Khurrasani: The 14 fidayeen whose video we have already given, why is it that their photo has not been shown as yet? The photos that are being shown are either old or are of prisoners who were killed. As per the last communication link which was around 1 o’clock day time, one fidayeen reported the death of about more than 250 people and only one fidayeen who blew himself up meaning no evidence about him can be gathered as to which card he was carrying and which colour uniform was he wearing? The last thing that he said was that the 13 of us are all fine and now we will split up and fight etc etc. So my question is at least show one body that was killed and why reporters are not being allowed to enter the camp so that true picture can be clarified. The 14 big bombs that the fidayeen took with them in one of the cars and were detonated, did these not do any damage?

5. The terrorists were contained within 3 layer security of 50 meter. – ISPR.

Muhammad Khurrasani: If they were contained within 50 meter then where are the VIP cars? Also how did they manage to kill so many people within this distance? According to them, of the 13 fidayeen who were killed, why don’t they show as evidence at least one body or identify at least one of them. Also why media is still not allowed to go inside?

6. The whole operation planning and control was being done from Afghanistan. – ISPR.

Muhammd Khurrasani: These kind of statements are false. Because everyone knows that signals from Afghanistan work only up to 40 kilometers inside Pakistan and 40 kilometers inside Afghanistan the signals from Pakistan. This is not a valid proof or statement. Where are the Pakistan’s loud and lofty claims that no SIM can be activated without fingerprint? Then which number was used to communicate from the PAF base? Were those Afghan SIMs? Can the ISPR or intelligence agencies not identify these SIMs etc etc? All these things point towards the total failure of the Pakistan government and the Taliban Alhamdulillah (by the grace of Allah) is united today.

END

(Thanks to RA for translation)

TTP have also released a further 5 minute video entitled “PAF Camp Fedayan” They released an earlier video showing attackers prior to the assault on Badaber with Muhammad Khurrasani.

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights, WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Muhammad Khurrasani Central Spokesperson Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) centre with his fighters prior to attack on PAF at Bedaber

(TTP video still)

Despite ongoing military operation Zarb -e -Asb launched in 2014 to strike at the heart of insurgency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan Tehreek -e-Taliban (TTP) still have the capabilities to launch a significant attack against the Pakistan Air Force at Bedaber near Peshawar. The attack could have been far worse had it not been for the swift response of security forces including the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) which arrived on the scene in ten minutes. According to DAWN, They were joined by the Special Service Group (SSG) special forces, Light Commandos, regular army personnel and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) police who helped ward off attackers believed to be under the control of operators working from within Afghanistan.

Major-General Asim Saleem Bajwa, an army spokesman, told Pakistan’s media, the terrorists arrived by vehicle on Inqalab road near to the entrance to the base and proceeded to launch an assault from 2 different directions. The base was built by the United States in the 1950s and was previously used as as a listening post to intercept radio information from the Soviet Union. Bajwa stated,

“after dismounting, the terrorists used rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) and automatic rifle fire to breach the gates and gain entry into the PAF base.

The terrorists then split into two groups, with eight militants heading towards the administrative area of the base while the other group headed towards the technical area,

Once the terrorists entered the facility, they were contained within 50 metres of either side of the gate, and were not able to advance towards their objectives.”

There are conflicting reports as to whether the attackers wore suicide vests (which was often the case during previous similar attacks). According to Shafqat Malik, head of the Bomb Disposal Squad, they appeared to be geared up for a long battle. Unable to move further into the base, TTP militants who were dressed in black constabulary uniform engaged in a firefight, and attacked a mosque hurling grenades and killing 16 men at morning prayer.

Capt Asfandyar died in the attack (Image Bajwa, Twitter)

One of those who died during the battle was Capt Asfandyar who according to Bajwa “embraced shahadat while fighting valiantly and leading his troops from the front-10”

DAWN reported, “the army confirmed that 22 PAF personnel, three soldiers, including Captain Asfandyar Bukhari, and four civilians were killed, while 25 others got injuries in attack.

Fighters embracing before leaving for attack on Bedaber

(Image TTP video still)

TTP account of attack

TTP were able to send several messages to international media giving updates during the attack. Messages were sent by Muhammad Khurrasani Central Spokesperson Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP). Khurrasani was previously seen on video with his fighters before the launch of a major assault on Army School Peshawar in December 2014 which left 147 dead see following links,

“Peshawar review: Bombing civilians torture and extra judicial killing major factors leading to army school massacre”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2014/12/23/peshawar-review-bombing-civilians-torture-and-extra-judicial-killings-major-factors-leading-to-army-school-massacre/

and

“Mullah Fazlullah video states attack on Peshawar School was planned to take hostages for exchange”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/01/05/mullah-fazlullah-video-states-attack-on-peshawar-school-was-planned-to-take-hostages-for-exchange/

The following is a translation giving some of the main details of the Bedaber assault,

“Today morning between 4 and 5, Tehreek-e-Taliban’s special fidaeen (suicide) unit comprising 14 suicide fighters in special vehicles entered without obstruction in PAF (Pakistan Air Force) camp Badaber carrying heavy weapons and in two buildings of Air Force officers surrounded them. Regarding the hostages, we gave safe passage to women and children.

In areas including tribal and all of Pakistan, the innocent and those who loved Allah were rained on with fire by these kafir frontline air force officers who were targeted one by one.

And last contact which was at 11 O clock in the morning one fidaeen told us that our only one partner has been martyred and the war is still going on. Approximately 200 officers have been killed so far.

And now we all are in contact with each other and therefore an organised war is in progress.

Note: Before this we circulated the news of martyrdom of a few of our colleagues because due to the intensity of the war they were out of contact with us and now the true situation has been clarified.”

(Muhammad Khurrasani Central Spokesperson Tehreek-e-Taliban, Pakistan continues)

“Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s fidayeen (suicide) unit, TSG commando fidayeen called from PAF base in Bada-e-Bair that according to our quick estimates more than 250 kafir’s frontline force’s members and officers have been killed. Our war is still going on and army is using helicopters and planes for shelling but our position is better and we shall take revenge of the blood of the innocent from these cruel people. We shall try to broadcast the telephonic conversation of the fidayeen Inshah Allah (Allah willing) tomorrow or day after.”

End

(A video was later released featuring Khurrasani delivering a speech prior to his men departing for the attack)

Soon after the incident, the COAS and Chief of Air Staff visited the wounded in hospital. Asim Bajwal SPR posted the following photos on Twitter, tweeting,

Update:#COAS visited CMH Psr, met all injured from Army/PAF.CAS accompanied. Injured in high morale & spirits-11

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights, WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

How will prisoner in wheelchair be hanged? (Image Eidard)

September 18, 2015

The Pakistani authorities have set Tuesday 22 September as the date on which they will hang a paraplegic prisoner.

Abdul Basit (43) contracted tubercular meningitis while in prison, which has left him “bed-bound,” according to a medical board report.

Basit’s lawyers at Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) have filed a petition with the Supreme Court, arguing that to carry out the hanging would constitute cruel and unusual punishment. They are also calling on Pakistan’s President to consider a mercy petition filed on 22 July, on which no decision has yet been made.

Pakistan’s prison guidelines require that a prisoner stands on the gallows in order to be hanged, and the authorities have not made clear how they intend to hang a prisoner who requires the use of a wheelchair.

The Pakistan Prison Rules state that the rope for hanging must be the correct length, in order to avoid prisoners facing protracted strangulation (if it is too long) or decapitation (if it is too short). The rules state that the rope’s length is determined by measuring it from “the lower jaw of the condemned prisoner as he stands on the scaffold.” This and other procedures set out in the rules cannot be followed in Basit’s case, leaving open the possibility of a botched hanging.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) initially stayed Basit’s case, but ruled earlier this month that it could go ahead, despite the prison’s failure to make clear how the execution would be carried out. The Court added that Pakistan’s obligations under international law “should be kept aside.”

Commenting, Maya Foa said: “It may now just be days before we see the horrific spectacle of Pakistan hanging a parlaysed man – something which is likely to break Pakistan’s own rules against cruel and unusual punishment.  Worse still, Pakistan’s Government has effectively ignored Basit’s mercy petition, and seems prepared to push ahead with this execution even though the jail has no clear idea of how they will do it.  Pakistan’s President has the power to stay this execution – he must do so, without delay.”

ENDS

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Reprieve Statement 10th September 2015

The British Government has told the UN Security Council (UNSC) that the campaign against ISIS in Iraq provides legal justification for UK drone strikes in Syria – a claim which is different to that of pure UK ‘self-defence’ provided by David Cameron to MPs earlier this week.

On Monday, David Cameron told MPs that strikes he had ordered in Syria were legal because they were taken to prevent attacks on the UK. However, in a letter sent to the UNSC on the same day, the British Ambassador also states that “ISIL is engaged in an ongoing armed attack against Iraq, and therefore action against ISIL in Syria is lawful in the collective self-defence of Iraq” – a justification which was not provided to MPs in the Prime Minister’s statement.

The letter, published today by the United Nations, is the UK’s official submission to the Security Council outlining the legal justification for the strikes under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.  While it states that the drone strike “was a necessary and proportionate exercise of the individual right of self-defence of the United Kingdom,” it also argues that “action against ISIL in Syria is lawful in the collective self-defence of Iraq.” The latter statement was not made to MPs, and appears to be at odds with Parliament’s vote in 2013 blocking strikes on Syria.

Commenting, Kat Craig, Legal Director of Reprieve’s Abuses in Counter-Terrorism team, said:

“The Prime Minister’s supposed reasons for carrying out this unprecedented drone attack seem to be changing by the day. Parliament voted strikes in Syria down, the government promised to return to Parliament if it were going to strike again, and yet the PM has just told the United Nations he struck Syria in order to defend Iraq. This is precisely why we need a full explanation of the legal and factual rationale for this attack without further delay.”

ENDS

Links

Reprieve website

http://www.reprieve.org.uk/case-study/drone-strikes/

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.