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| Death row Briton freed from jail | Death row Briton freed from jail |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A British man who spent 18 years on death row in Pakistan for a murder which he said was in self-defence has been released, an official has said. | A British man who spent 18 years on death row in Pakistan for a murder which he said was in self-defence has been released, an official has said. |
| President Pervez Musharraf commuted the death sentence on Mirza Tahir Hussain, 36, of Leeds, West Yorks, on Thursday. | President Pervez Musharraf commuted the death sentence on Mirza Tahir Hussain, 36, of Leeds, West Yorks, on Thursday. |
| "He was released this morning," Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said. "I don't know if he has left Pakistan or not." | "He was released this morning," Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said. "I don't know if he has left Pakistan or not." |
| Hussain was convicted in 1989 of murdering taxi driver Jamshed Khan. | Hussain was convicted in 1989 of murdering taxi driver Jamshed Khan. |
| He always said he killed the driver in self-defence, after being sexually assaulted. | |
| Yesterday was wonderful when his sentence was commuted, but today we have the news everyone was really hoping for Greg Mulholland MP | |
| President Musharraf intervened in the case following a long campaign to prevent Hussain's hanging, including pleas for clemency from the Prince of Wales, Prime Minister Tony Blair, European politicians and human rights groups. | President Musharraf intervened in the case following a long campaign to prevent Hussain's hanging, including pleas for clemency from the Prince of Wales, Prime Minister Tony Blair, European politicians and human rights groups. |
| Greg Mulholland, the Hussain family's MP in Leeds, said: "Neither the family nor myself have had official confirmation of his release yet, but it looks like this is the news the family has been waiting for 18 years. | |
| "Yesterday was wonderful when his sentence was commuted, but today we have the news everyone was really hoping for. | |
| "We are waiting to hear details of when he can finally get on that plane and come home into the arms of his family. | |
| "I am looking forward to shaking his hand when he's back in Leeds." | |
| Hussain was originally acquitted of the murder by Pakistan's High Court, but an Islamic court sentenced him to death in 1998. | Hussain was originally acquitted of the murder by Pakistan's High Court, but an Islamic court sentenced him to death in 1998. |
| Settlement refused | |
| The sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2003, and a review petition was rejected a year later. | The sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2003, and a review petition was rejected a year later. |
| But the government put off his execution several times, most recently until the end of this year. | |
| Authorities had hoped a blood-money settlement, permitted under Islamic law, could be reached with the dead man's family. | Authorities had hoped a blood-money settlement, permitted under Islamic law, could be reached with the dead man's family. |
| But the relatives refused to negotiate, saying to do so would be dishonourable. | But the relatives refused to negotiate, saying to do so would be dishonourable. |
| The family of the victim said on Thursday they were furious the sentence had been commuted and planned to appeal against the decision. |