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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Death row Briton freed from jail | Death row Briton freed from jail |
| (10 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. | 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 Trip sealed man's fate | Yesterday was wonderful when his sentence was commuted, but today we have the news everyone was really hoping for Greg Mulholland MP Trip sealed man's fate |
| President Musharraf intervened in the case following a long campaign to prevent Hussain's hanging. | President Musharraf intervened in the case following a long campaign to prevent Hussain's hanging. |
| There were pleas for clemency from the Prince of Wales, Prime Minister Tony Blair, European politicians and human rights groups. | There were pleas for clemency from the Prince of Wales, Prime Minister Tony Blair, European politicians and human rights groups. |
| The interior ministry in Pakistan said it expected Hussain would now be released into the care of the British High Commission in Islamabad. | The interior ministry in Pakistan said it expected Hussain would now be released into the care of the British High Commission in Islamabad. |
| They will conduct basic health checks, carry out a de-brief and give him food and clothing. | They will conduct basic health checks, carry out a de-brief and give him food and clothing. |
| It is believed he could stay there for up to 48 hours before returning to the UK on a commercial flight. | It is believed he could stay there for up to 48 hours before returning to the UK on a commercial flight. |
| Acquittal overruled | |
| 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. | 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. | "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. | "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." | "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 | Settlement refused |
| 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. | 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. | The family of the victim said on Thursday they were furious the sentence had been commuted and planned to appeal against the decision. |