A hanging threat

Published in The News on August 17, 2013

With reference to your editorial ‘A hanging threat’ (August 14), I appeal to the government to continue the moratorium on executions, because – like drone attacks – executing militants will only create more terrorists. Perhaps the one good thing Zardari did during his five years was that he did not allow any executions.

Capital punishment has been abolished in most countries of the world because it is counter-productive. It should be remembered that Hazrat Umar did not allow the cutting of hands as punishment during one part of his reign because there was famine in the land. In a sense, our successive governments have themselves been responsible for the creation of militancy as no effort was made to spend on education, health and basic necessities. No more hangings, please!

SHAKIR LAKHANI

Karachi