Indonesia halts execution of Pakistani drug convict Zulfiqar Ali

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GEO NEWS
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Indonesia halts execution of Pakistani drug convict Zulfiqar Ali

ISLAMABAD/JAKARTA: Indonesia has halted the execution of Pakistani drug convict Zulfiqar Ali, Pakistan's ambassador in Jakarta confirmed on Thursday, hours before the Lahore resident was set to face a firing squad.

Zulfiqar Ali, 52, was transferred Monday to Nusakambangan prison island off Java where executions take place, and Indonesian authorities had told Pakistani officials his execution was imminent.

But, speaking to Geo News from Jakarta, Pakistani ambassador to Indonesia M. Aqil Nadeem confirmed that Indonesian authorities had halted the execution of the Pakistani citizen.

"I can confirm that Zulfiqar Ali's execution has been halted. We are relieved that his life has been saved," Nadeem told Geo News via telephone.

Nadeem said he could give no further legal details at the moment regarding Zulfiqar Ali's case, and whether he had been pardoned or his execution delayed, but he said Indonesian authorities would soon inform Pakistani officials of the details.

Ali, a resident of Mughalpura area of Lahore, was arrested in a drug smuggling case in 2004.

Rights groups including Amnesty International had expressed serious concerns about Ali's conviction, alleging it arose out of beatings and torture and he did not have a fair trial.

Earlier today, Indonesia rejected appeals from the UN and EU to halt the execution of 14 drug convicts including the Pakistani citizen.

The group, which also included foreigners from Nigeria, India and Zimbabwe as well as Indonesians, had been placed in isolation on the prison island where Jakarta carries out executions.

Members of Ali's family said earlier today they had been told he would be executed on Thursday night.

But relatives and friends who had gathered for a protest outside Ali's residence back home in Lahore broke out into celebrations upon hearing the news of his execution being halted.

According to reports from news agencies, Ali's execution was halted while Indonesia moved ahead with the execution of four of the 14 convicts, including three foreigners. Reports from local media in Jakarta said authorities executed one local and three Nigerian drug convicts by firing squad.

Indonesia last carried out executions in April 2015 when it put to death eight drug convicts, including two Australians, sparking international outrage.