16/11/2006

Briton's death sentence commuted to life imprisonment

A British man sentenced to death for murder in Pakistan has had his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment.

Mirza Tahir Hussain, 36, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, was convicted of the murder of taxi driver Jamshed Khan in 1989. He had always denied murdering the taxi driver, claiming that he acted in self-defence.

Hussain had been acquitted of the crime by a High Court, but was then found guilty and sentenced to death by an Islamic Sharia court.

He had been due to be executed during the Prince of Wales recent visit to Pakistan, but the execution was delayed after the Prince contacted Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz about the case.

It is understood that Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf intervened in the case.

Clarence House released a statement saying that Prince Charles was "very pleased" by the decision.

Yorkshire and Humber MEP Edward McMillan-Scott, who has been campaigning for Hussain's release, said that he would be travelling to Pakistan in order to try and get Hussain returned to the UK late this year.

(KMcA)

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