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Death sentence lifted on Briton Death sentence lifted on Briton
(20 minutes later)
A Briton sentenced to death in Pakistan has had his punishment commuted, according to a Pakistani official. A Briton sentenced to death in Pakistan has had his punishment commuted, according to Pakistani government officials.
Mirza Tahir Hussain, 36, from Leeds, will instead be given a life sentence after intervention by the country's President Pervez Musharraf.Mirza Tahir Hussain, 36, from Leeds, will instead be given a life sentence after intervention by the country's President Pervez Musharraf.
Hussain was convicted in 1989 of murdering a taxi driver, Jamshed Khan.Hussain was convicted in 1989 of murdering a taxi driver, Jamshed Khan.
He will now be eligible for release having served 18 years in a Pakistani jail for the crime. He could now be eligible for release having served 18 years in a Pakistani jail for the crime.
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamad said no further details were immediately available about where he would serve the sentence or whether he might be freed at some point.
Human rights groups such as Amnesty International, along with both UK and Euro MPs, had previously demanded that Hussain be pardoned.
The request for his life to be spared was reportedly made by Prince Charles, who recently toured Pakistan.The request for his life to be spared was reportedly made by Prince Charles, who recently toured Pakistan.
According to the Times, the prince made his plea to Mr Musharraf during an informal moment while the pair walked to his car following an official meeting in Islamabad. Humanitarian pleas
Mr Hussain's hanging was due to take place during the five-day royal trip by the prince and the Duchess of Cornwall in October, but it was initially delayed until 31 December after the prince wrote to Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz about the case. Prime Minister Tony Blair previously said he had raised the matter personally with Mr Musharraf during the president's visit to the UK.
Hussain says he was acting in self defence after being sexually assaulted. Hussain's hanging was due to take place during the five-day royal trip by the prince and the Duchess of Cornwall in October, but it was initially delayed until 31 December after the prince wrote to Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz about the case.
The Briton said he was acting in self defence after being sexually assaulted.
He was cleared by a high court in 1996 but an Islamic Sharia court took the case over and imposed the death penalty.He was cleared by a high court in 1996 but an Islamic Sharia court took the case over and imposed the death penalty.
The sentence could have been revoked if Khan's family had accepted an offer of blood money, but they refused.The sentence could have been revoked if Khan's family had accepted an offer of blood money, but they refused.