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[hastalavistababy]

J&K CM seeks clemency for Afzal


 New Delhi, September 29: In a latest twist of developments, the J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Mohd Afzal's death penalty, asking him to intervene in the matter.

 
 
The Chief Minister is also seeking presidential clemency for Afzal.

A Delhi Court on Tuesday ordered that Jaish-e-Mohammed militant Mohd Afzal, sentenced to death in the December 13, 2001 Parliament attack case, be hanged on October 20.

Apart from Afzal, there were three accused in the case, Shaukat Hussain, Navjot Sandhu alias Afsan Guru, wife of Shaukat Hussain, and SAR Geelani, a lecturer in Delhi University.
 
 
 The apex court had acquitted Geelani and Afsan Guru from all charges and had reduced the death sentence awarded to Shaukat Hussain to 10 years’ imprisonment.

J&K political parties seek mercy for Afzal Guru



Srinagar, September 29: Mainstream politicians of Jammu and Kashmir, including PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, have joined separatists in asking that Mohammad Afzal Guru, sentenced to death for the 2001 terror attack on Parliament, be pardoned.

 
 
There have been widespread protests over the past three days in Srinagar against a court order setting October 20 as the date for the execution of Guru, who hails from the Kashmir Valley.

Mehbooba, whose PDP is part of the ruling coalition, called for a review of Guru's death sentence, saying this could affect the peace process in Kashmir. She questioned the wisdom of executing Guru at a time when India is building bridges with Pakistan and the people of Kashmir.

Claiming Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad too was in favour of clemency for Guru, she told reporters, "I'll suggest that all (political parties) -- the Congress, National Conference and PDP and other mainstream parties – should together appeal to the President to change this sentence from death to life imprisonment."

   
 
 
Noting that Guru has a young son and elderly parents, Mehbooba said when Nalini, one of those sentenced to death for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv *hi, could be shown mercy, the same could be done for Guru.

The CPI-M too demanded a review of Guru's death sentence, saying the step would hamper the peace process in the subcontinent. "The execution of the verdict would make matters worse and given the seriousness of the situation, one cannot ignore the tumult caused due to the decision of hanging Guru and its negative impact on the peace process," said a statement from the party.

In an apparent reference to the hanging of JKLF founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat in 1984, the CPI-M' state committee said a repetition of past exercises by the Centre will adversely affect efforts for restoring peace in the state.

The President should revoke Guru's death sentence in the larger interest of the country, it said. The focus should be on strengthening the peace process for better results to remove the sense of alienation among Kashmiri people and not to add to it, the CPI-M said.

CPI-M state secretary and legislator M Y Tarigami has gone to Delhi to mobilise intellectuals, social and rights activists and politicians to approach the President for clemency.

Mufti Azam (head mufti) Bashiruddin too has requested the President to revoke Guru's death penalty.

[sgusa]

I posted this under the thread " I pray for the soul of Mohd Afzal" - read the thread to understand the title.