SHABBIR HUSSAIN Arbitrarily sentenced to death as a terrorist Shabbir Hussain was arrested on 21 February, 2009 and convicted for kidnapping and murdering the brother of a business partner for ransom by an Anti-Terrorism Court, Lahore on 29 August, 2009. The alleged murder had taken place in Shabbir’s house where the business partner’s brother Faisal Rasheed was staying on his visit to Lahore. Shabbir claimed that two dacoits had forcibly entered the house at night resulting in the violence that had led to the deceased being killed. It is clear from both the defence and prosecution’s version of the story that Faisal Rasheed was voluntarily in Shabbir’s house and was killed there later on the same day. Despite the nature of the alleged offence bearing no connection to traditional definitions of terrorism, the ATC accepted jurisdiction in the case, without any discussion. Shabbir claims that the ATA charge was included by the Police following his inability to pay a hefty bribe. He claims that following arrest he was unlawfully detained at various places for 5 days before he was presented before a Magistrate who granted a police remand for 14 days. During this time, he was tortured severely by strappado (hanging by the wrists), severe beating and rula (damaging veins and nerves in the thighs and calves through use of a bamboo stick). The police asked him repeatedly to ask his business associate for money. The High Court rejected his appeal and confirmed his death sentence on 1 June, 2011. The Supreme Court subsequently accepted his appeal and converted his death sentence to seven years. TIMELINE 26 APR 2006 The murder is committed and an FIR is registered 24 MAY 2006 Shabbir is arrested 11 NOV 2007 Shabbir is handed down the death sentence by Session Court, Rawalpindi 10 NOV 2010 Lahore High Court confirm his sentence 22 APR 2011 Supreme Court uphold the sentence