Islamabad/Lahore : On the occasion of the World Day Against the Death Penalty, Redemption Pakistan organized a roundtable event bringing together religious leaders, lawyers, human rights activists, and journalists to call for the complete abolition of the death penalty in Pakistan.
The event highlighted that the death penalty, rather than serving as a deterrent, perpetuates injustice and violates the sanctity of human life. Participants unanimously agreed that the current criminal justice system, marked by wrongful convictions, inadequate legal representation, and systemic discrimination, fails to ensure fair trials — making executions both unsafe and irreversible.
Speaking at the event, Redemption Pakistan’s Executive Director said that “The death penalty protects no one. It only deepens the wounds of a broken justice system. Pakistan must move toward compassion, reform, and fairness — values that are at the heart of both our faith and our Constitution.”
Senior journalist Hasnain Tirmazi said that “we in Pakistan must confront a grave contradiction. Our justice system, plagued by flaws and inequalities, continues to employ capital punishment as its ultimate penalty. The risk of executing an innocent person, a tragically common possibility given our system’s vulnerabilities, is a sin we cannot afford. We call upon the state to heed these Islamic principles. Let us abolish this irreversible punishment. Let us champion a justice system that values life, promotes restorative justice, and truly reflects the compassion at the heart of our faith. It is not just a legal reform; it is a moral and Islamic imperative”.
Religious scholars Moualana Asim Makhdoum and Moulana Mehmood Ghaznavi emphasized that Islam upholds the sanctity of life and that mercy and forgiveness are central to justice. They urged the state to uphold these principles by placing an immediate moratorium on executions and commuting existing death sentences.
Lawyers and human rights defenders reiterated that Pakistan’s justice system needs urgent reform to prevent wrongful convictions and ensure equality before the law.
Journalists and civil society members called on the media to responsibly highlight cases of injustice and promote awareness about humane alternatives to capital punishment.Redemption Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to working with all sectors of society to promote restorative justice, strengthen fair trial standards, and advocate for the total abolition of the death penalty in line with international human rights norms and Islamic principles of mercy.
