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Ever since the lift on the death penalty in Pakistan, more than 500+ people have been hanged at the altar. The increase in hangings came after the set-up of military courts under the National Action Plan of Pakistan, for the protection of the country.
However, have you ever wondered why the death penalty awarded, is only carried out before sunrise and after Fajr in Pakistan? Well, we’re going to shed light on the issue. There’s a solid reason for the exact timing of the executions that it should not be before the Sun is out, but still right after the Fajr prayers.
Apparently, according to Exodus 20: 2 – “If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed; 3 but if it happens after sunrise, he is guilty of bloodshed. So no guilt is felt of administering the death penalty of the wrongdoer. (The Book of Exodus or, simply, Exodus, is the second book of the Hebrew Bible (the sacred writings of Judaism)
So, what it is is that from the Islamic point of view, the death penalty should be awarded after Jummah prayers according to Shariah, so that more people get to witness it and do not commit the same acts. From the Islamic point of view, the death penalty is of two forms; beheading and stoning to death (in case of adultery).
Other reasons cited for the early executions in Pakistan, is that ever since independence, from 14th August 1947 till day, Pakistan has no separate laws for capital punishment, but the same model which is being followed, of the Government of India Act of 1935; with only some handsome changes.
So, the reason of death penalty awarded before sunrise and after Fajr in Pakistan goes back to the same model which the British kept, that if the death penalty was to be awarded after sunrise and Fajr, the ‘Jalaad’ handing out the execution would be guilty of bloodshed. The more you know.
