Pakistani citizen on death row in Indonesia asks for government’s intervention

A Pakistani citizen by the name of Zulfiqar Ali is facing death sentence in Indonesia for possession of heroin. He is scheduled to be executed on Friday and has pleaded for his life, asking the government of Pakistan to step in and halt his execution.
“Talk to me, if you still find me guilty, kill me 10 times,” Zulfiqar Ali told a local newspaper. “I am ready to be executed if found guilty, but please spare me if I am innocent,” the 52-year-old added.

Ali has already been transferred to Nusakambangan prison Island off the Java coast, where all the executions take place. Even the Indonesian authorities have warned Pakistan that his execution cannot be halted because Indonesia takes drug-related crimes very seriously.

While talking to reporters, Ali said that he had come to Indonesia in the hopes of earning for his family, not to become a criminal. Ali, a father of six, believes that his execution can be halted if both the countries try to resolve this matter on embassy level.

Ali’s family was also shown on national television, pleading to the government to save him.

“Authorities say they will execute him. I am appealing to the government of Pakistan to do something. I don’t know what to say, we don’t have time.”
“I keep praying to God that they become merciful towards my brother,” Ali’s sister said during an interview.

According to rights activist, Ali’s case was not treated with fairness. These groups maintain that Ali was coerced into admitting to a crime he did not commit.

Maryam Haq, legal director at the Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), said: “He was tortured relentlessly and deprived of his most basic legal rights.
Ali was arrested in November 2004 at his home in West Java province and was charged with possession of 300 grams of heroin. He was not allowed access to a lawyer until one month after his arrest.
So far Ali’s execution is still on schedule and it is not clear yet whether the government of Pakistan will intervene to halt his execution.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=53723

Posted by fatimaarshad on Jul 28 2016. Filed under Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.