Pakistan’s Ambassador to Indonesia Muhammed Aaqil Nadeem told ARY News that he was officially informed that Zulfiqar Ali’s execution was halted.
The ambassador said he was glad over the decision but not sure whether Ali was absolved or not. However, implementation on execution had been halted for now.
The Pakistani national was arrested on drug trafficking charges from Bogor, Indonesia, in November 2004, and awarded him death sentence in 2005.
Earlier, Indonesia had rejected appeals from the United Nations and European Union to halt the execution of 14 drug convicts including a Pakistani national and other foreigners. They were to be executed Thursday night.
Executions of ten, out of the fourteen, to be executed have been halted temporarily, while four, one local and three foreigners, have been executed.
Sister of the Pakistani convict expressed happiness over halting of her brother’s execution and said she was thankful to all the nation for their prayers.
Indonesia last carried out executions in April 2015 when it put to death eight drug convicts, including two Australians, sparking international outrage.
Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir had defended the looming executions as “pure law enforcement”, AFP reported.
The federal government had directed Pakistan Embassy in Jakarta to take up the case of Zulfiqar Ali with the Indonesian authorities at all levels and with all concerned institutions.
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