HYDERABAD: Activists of the Hyderabad chapter of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) observed the ‘World day against death penalty’ on Monday and urged the government to abolish the death sentence.

They gathered outside the local press club carrying banners and placards and shouting slogans against death penalty in the country.

Leading the demonstration, Hyderabad HRCP task force coordinator Dr Ashothama Lohana and activists Lala Abdul Haleem, Prof Imdad Chandio, Makhdoom Aqil, Ghufrana Arain and others appealed to the government to do away with the capital punishment in the country immediately.

They also urged the government to ratify the UN convention against death penalty.

They said the criminal justice system of the country and method of the police investigation were so poor that innocent people often were hanged while powerful and influential persons, who committed crimes, were exonerated and released.