SC Commutes Death Sentence Of Mentally-Challenged Prisoners

SC Commutes Death Sentence Of Mentally-Challenged Prisoners
In a landmark verdict, Supreme Court (SC) has commuted the death sentence of two mentally-ill prisoners on the death row.

These prisoners are identified to be Kanizan Bibi and Imdad Ali. The court has also ordered the officials to file a mercy plea for another mentally ill prisoner, Ghulam Abbas who has spent almost 15 years on death row.

The verdict was given by a five member bench including Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik, Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Ijaz ul Hassan, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Mian and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali.

One of the prisoners, Kanizan Bibi is schizophrenic and has spent 30 years on death row.

The opening remarks of the judgement given by justice Manzoor Ahmed malik read: the mental health of a person is as important and significant as physical health. Unfortunately, it is often not given the importance and seriousness it deserves. Because of certain misconceptions, the implications of mental illness are overlooked and the vulnerability or disability that it causes is not given attention.”