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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Death row Briton freed from jail | Death row Briton freed from jail |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A British man who spent 18 years in a Pakistani jail has been freed a day after his death sentence was lifted. | A British man who spent 18 years in a Pakistani jail has been freed a day after his death sentence was lifted. |
| Mirza Tahir Hussain, 36, of Leeds, West Yorkshire, will undergo health checks at the British High Commission in Islamabad before returning to the UK. | Mirza Tahir Hussain, 36, of Leeds, West Yorkshire, will undergo health checks at the British High Commission in Islamabad before returning to the UK. |
| He was convicted in 1989 of murdering taxi driver Jamshed Khan, but always said the killing was in self-defence. | He was convicted in 1989 of murdering taxi driver Jamshed Khan, but always said the killing was in self-defence. |
| His brother Amjad said: "We are delighted and thrilled and it's just a joyous occasion for the family." | His brother Amjad said: "We are delighted and thrilled and it's just a joyous occasion for the family." |
| Asked by reporters how his mother had reacted to the news, he said: "She can't wait to hold her son in her arms." | |
| He did not know exactly when his brother would be back in the UK, but added: "All I can say at this stage is it will be pretty soon. | |
| Yesterday was wonderful when his sentence was commuted, but today we have the news everyone was really hoping for Greg Mulholland MP Trip sealed man's fate | Yesterday was wonderful when his sentence was commuted, but today we have the news everyone was really hoping for Greg Mulholland MP Trip sealed man's fate |
| "He is in the custody of officials who have been tasked with looking after his safety, security and welfare and preparations are being made for his onward journey." | |
| He said President Pervez Musharraf, who commuted the death sentence on Thursday to life imprisonment, "had shown himself to be an enlightened man who has rectified this miscarriage of justice". | He said President Pervez Musharraf, who commuted the death sentence on Thursday to life imprisonment, "had shown himself to be an enlightened man who has rectified this miscarriage of justice". |
| Mr Hussain said his brother had "suffered beyond belief" and would need help to adjust to life outside prison. | Mr Hussain said his brother had "suffered beyond belief" and would need help to adjust to life outside prison. |
| News of his release broke on Friday morning when Pakistan's Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao told reporters: "Mirza Tahir Hussain... is a free person now and he can go wherever he wants to go." | |
| Before Hussain was freed, there were pleas for clemency from the Prince of Wales, Prime Minister Tony Blair, European politicians and human rights groups. | Before Hussain was freed, there were pleas for clemency from the Prince of Wales, Prime Minister Tony Blair, European politicians and human rights groups. |
| Health checks | Health checks |
| The interior ministry in Pakistan said he had been released into the care of the British High Commission in Islamabad. | The interior ministry in Pakistan said he had been released into the care of the British High Commission in Islamabad. |
| They will conduct basic health checks, carry out a de-brief and give him food and clothing. | They will conduct basic health checks, carry out a de-brief and give him food and clothing. |
| It is believed he could stay there for up to 48 hours before flying home. | It is believed he could stay there for up to 48 hours before flying home. |
| Greg Mulholland, the Hussain family's MP in Leeds, said: "Yesterday was wonderful when his sentence was commuted, but today we have the news everyone was really hoping for." | Greg Mulholland, the Hussain family's MP in Leeds, said: "Yesterday was wonderful when his sentence was commuted, but today we have the news everyone was really hoping for." |
| Hussain was originally acquitted of the murder by Pakistan's High Court, but an Islamic court sentenced him to death in 1998. | Hussain was originally acquitted of the murder by Pakistan's High Court, but an Islamic court sentenced him to death in 1998. |
| The sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2003, and a review petition was rejected a year later. | The sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2003, and a review petition was rejected a year later. |
| Settlement refused | Settlement refused |
| But the government put off his execution several times, most recently until the end of this year. | But the government put off his execution several times, most recently until the end of this year. |
| Authorities had hoped a blood-money settlement, permitted under Islamic law, could be reached with the dead man's family. | Authorities had hoped a blood-money settlement, permitted under Islamic law, could be reached with the dead man's family. |
| But the relatives refused to negotiate, saying to do so would be dishonourable. | But the relatives refused to negotiate, saying to do so would be dishonourable. |
| The family of the victim said on Thursday they were furious the sentence had been commuted and planned to appeal against the decision. | The family of the victim said on Thursday they were furious the sentence had been commuted and planned to appeal against the decision. |