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Death row man's 'nightmare ends' Death row man's 'nightmare ends'
(about 1 hour later)
The family of a British man whose death sentence in Pakistan has been commuted to life imprisonment say they hope he will be returned to Britain soon.The family of a British man whose death sentence in Pakistan has been commuted to life imprisonment say they hope he will be returned to Britain soon.
Government officials in Pakistan said President Pervez Musharraf had intervened in the case of Mirza Tahir Hussain, 36, of Leeds, West Yorkshire. President Pervez Musharraf intervened in the case of Mirza Tahir Hussain, 36, of Leeds, West Yorkshire, following a long campaign to prevent his hanging.
Hussain was convicted in 1989 of murdering taxi driver Jamshed Khan.Hussain was convicted in 1989 of murdering taxi driver Jamshed Khan.
His brother Amjad said: "At last these 18 years of nightmare appear to be coming to an end."His brother Amjad said: "At last these 18 years of nightmare appear to be coming to an end."
Speaking to reporters at his home in Leeds, he said: "We are awaiting the news that finally Tahir will be able to come back to us and start rebuilding his shattered life. We are hoping it is soon." Speaking to reporters at his home in Brudenell Grove, Hyde Park, Leeds, he said: "We are awaiting the news that finally Tahir will be able to come back to us and start rebuilding his shattered life. We are hoping it is soon."
I have been working with the family to secure Hussain's release and was planning a last minute plea next month which will now become a plea for his return to Leeds for Christmas Yorkshire and Humber MEP Edward McMillan-Scott He said the intervention of Prince Charles, who had urged clemency during a recent visit to Pakistan, had been "very important". Hopefully, Mirza will be returning back home to Leeds very, very soon Sajjad Karim MEP
He said the intervention of Prince Charles, who had urged clemency during a recent visit to Pakistan, had been "very important".
Prince Charles was "very pleased" with the decision, Clarence House said.Prince Charles was "very pleased" with the decision, Clarence House said.
Foreign secretary Margaret Beckett said: "We're very grateful to President Musharaff for the decision he's made in commuting the sentence and very much appreciate the steps the Pakistan government has taken and I'm sure his family will be particularly grateful and pleased."
Prime Minister Tony Blair previously said he had raised the matter personally with Mr Musharraf during the president's visit to the UK.
'Immediate release'
Sajjad Karim, who led a delegation of European Parliament members (MEPs) to lobby President Musharraf earlier this year, praised the role Prince Charles had played during a recent visit to Pakistan.Sajjad Karim, who led a delegation of European Parliament members (MEPs) to lobby President Musharraf earlier this year, praised the role Prince Charles had played during a recent visit to Pakistan.
"Personally, I think Prince Charles's intervention is one which was very welcome indeed," he said. "He is somebody who is held in very high regard by the Pakistan Government," he said.
"He is somebody who is held in very high regard by the Pakistan Government. The next step we will be pushing for is an immediate release. "The next step we will be pushing for is an immediate release.
"Hopefully, Mirza will be returning back home to Leeds very, very soon.""Hopefully, Mirza will be returning back home to Leeds very, very soon."
Plea for release Yorkshire and Humber MEP Edward McMillan-Scott said he has been working to ensure Hussain's release.
Yorkshire and Humber MEP Edward McMillan-Scott said he planned to go to Pakistan in December to try to ensure Hussain was home before Christmas. Amjad Hussain said his brother had "suffered beyond belief"
He said: "I have been working with the family to secure Hussain's release and was planning a last-minute plea next month which will now become a plea for his return to Leeds for Christmas."He said: "I have been working with the family to secure Hussain's release and was planning a last-minute plea next month which will now become a plea for his return to Leeds for Christmas."
Greg Mulholland, Hussain's local MP, called for an official statement confirming that Hussain would be released and allowed to return to his family in Leeds. Greg Mulholland, Hussain's local MP, called for an official statement confirming Hussain would be released and allowed to return to his family in Leeds.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We haven't been officially notified, but we welcome reports from the government of Pakistan that the sentence has been commuted to life on humanitarian grounds." The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad said it was not immediately clear where he would serve the sentence or whether he might be freed.
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad said it was not immediately clear where he would serve the sentence or whether he might be freed at some point. Hussain's hanging was due to take place during the 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.
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.
He had been cleared by a high court in 1996 but an Islamic Sharia court took the case over and imposed the death penalty.He had been 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.