Share

Pakistan urges Indonesia to delay execution of man convicted of drug smuggling

Syed Zahid Raza, the deputy Pakistani ambassador in Jakarta, told AFP that the convicts, which include a Pakistani, will most likely be executed at around midnight on Friday, after officials indicated the start of a 72-hour notice period at a meeting with diplomats.

Advertisement

Five other foreigners were also put to death in the executions, which sparked global outrage.

The country’s Attorney-General’s office, which oversees executions, would not confirm any details but spokesman Mohammad Rum said: “The time is approaching”.

Rights groups have expressed concern that Ali was tortured into confessing to possession of heroin and did not receive a fair trial.

JAKARTA -Indonesia has beefed up security at Nusa Kambangan prison island and closed it to visitors in a sign authorities are preparing to execute people convicted of drug crimes.

The third round of executions of drug convicts will take place on Friday 29th July by firing squad.

Citizens of France, Britain and the Philippines are known to be among the citizens on death row.

Despite last year’s executions in January and April, National Narcotics Agency (BNN) chief Budi Waseso said in November the number of drug use cases had increased from 4.2 million in June 2015 to 5.9 million in November 2015.

The announcement comes after a brief hiatus since last year’s controversial executions of mostly foreign convicts.

People watch as a small group of anti-drug activists try to burn an effigy during a protest near the ferry crossing for the prison island of Nusakambangan, where upcoming executions are expected, in Cilacap, Central Java, March 6, 2015.

The second round caused the most serious diplomatic tensions, with Canberra temporarily recalling its ambassador from Jakarta due to the execution of the Australian drug smugglers, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

Maryam Haq, legal director at the Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), said: “He was tortured relentlessly and deprived of his most basic legal rights”.

“Given that there is stronger evidence to support his innocence than guilt, it is now time for the President of Pakistan to appeal to our Muslim allies and save an innocent Pakistani’s life”.

His comments come after Indonesian woman Merry Utami, who was sentenced to death in 2003 for smuggling heroin, was transferred to the notorious Nusakambangan prison over the weekend. One month ago Indonesian Attorney General HM Prasetyo said Indonesia targets to execute 18 drug convicts in 2016, followed by another 30 in 2017.

Advertisement

He was hospitalised and required stomach and kidney surgery after the beatings, the statement continued. “There has been no independent investigation into his allegations”, Amnesty added. “Many prisoners on death row simply do not know who will be plucked out and shot”, president Julian McMahaon said in a statement on its website, reprieve.org.au.

Rights group asks Indonesia to pardon Pakistani drug convict