(Noshin Bashir, Karachi)
Is it not far from inference that an individual suffering from physical impairment along with chronic complications can be bestowed death penalty. Although the diseased don’t deserve absolution but must be in a straight position before hanging in accordance with the jail manual. The judiciary must ensure equity in making decisions and especially before awarding death or lifelong punishments. The case for Abd-ul-Basit has long been awaiting placement whether he would be hanged or not prior to his recovery from physical trauma. He was bestowed with penalty in the year 2009, but later noose around his neck hold-up twice due to his physical conditions. Earlier Shafqat Hussain was granted death penalty which was halted many times due to claims that he was underage at the time he committed heinous crime. There should be proper legislation in granting death penalty to physically or mentally impaired death row convicts. The cases regarding juvenile justice and traumatic convicts awaits screaming from the NGO's and human rights organizations or activists. These events necessitates the autonomous legislation without reaching an outcry. This is important from the human aspects also a need based criteria. Paraplegia can have many reasons but most frequently it is caused by spinal cord/canal injury. The spinal cord injury can be a consequence of stroke(either Ischemic or haemorrhage), trauma, birth defect(Spina bifida) or swelling in or around the injured portion of backbone. The recovery from paraplegia requires physiotherapy and treatment can hardly retrive the sensation of limbs and other affected areas i.e., thorax. The incidents like that also raise fingers on the punishments given in the cell during bodily remand.