This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/6160442.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Death row man 'glad to be home' | Death row man 'glad to be home' |
(about 8 hours later) | |
A British man who was sentenced to death in Pakistan has spoken of his relief after arriving back in the UK. | A British man who was sentenced to death in Pakistan has spoken of his relief after arriving back in the UK. |
Mirza Tahir Hussain, 36, from Leeds, arrived at Heathrow Airport late on Friday evening, having spent 18 years in prison. | Mirza Tahir Hussain, 36, from Leeds, arrived at Heathrow Airport late on Friday evening, having spent 18 years in prison. |
He was convicted in 1989 of murdering a taxi driver, but maintained the killing was in self-defence. | He was convicted in 1989 of murdering a taxi driver, but maintained the killing was in self-defence. |
Mr Hussain thanked those who campaigned for his release and added: "I am glad to be home." | Mr Hussain thanked those who campaigned for his release and added: "I am glad to be home." |
Shortly after landing at Heathrow, a day after Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf commuted the death sentence, Mr Hussain said he was looking forward to seeing his family in Leeds. | |
My thoughts remain with all the prisoners I have left behind Mirza Tahir Hussain Trip sealed man's fate In a statement read on his behalf by MEP Sajjad Haider Karim, he said: "It has been a tremendous strain to be separated from my family and loved ones. | My thoughts remain with all the prisoners I have left behind Mirza Tahir Hussain Trip sealed man's fate In a statement read on his behalf by MEP Sajjad Haider Karim, he said: "It has been a tremendous strain to be separated from my family and loved ones. |
"Freedom is a great gift. I want to use this freedom to get to know my family again, to adjust back to living here and to come to terms with my ordeal. | "Freedom is a great gift. I want to use this freedom to get to know my family again, to adjust back to living here and to come to terms with my ordeal. |
"My thoughts remain with all the prisoners I have left behind." | "My thoughts remain with all the prisoners I have left behind." |
Mr Hussain thanked those who helped win his release including President Musharraf, Prime Minister Tony Blair, the Prince of Wales and the Muslim Council of Britain. | Mr Hussain thanked those who helped win his release including President Musharraf, Prime Minister Tony Blair, the Prince of Wales and the Muslim Council of Britain. |
Originally acquitted of the murder by Pakistan's High Court, an Islamic court sentenced Mr Hussain to death in 1998. | Originally acquitted of the murder by Pakistan's High Court, an Islamic court sentenced Mr Hussain to death in 1998. |
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. |
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. |
Previous version
1
Next version