SC stays execution of schizophrenic prisoner Imdad Ali

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the execution of Imdad Ali, a schizophrenic man convicted in 2002 for murdering a cleric on the basis of Ali's mental illness.

The court issued notices to Advocate General Punjab, Prosecutor General Punjab and Attorney General, seeking their comments on the issue.

The notices were issued in connection with a review petition submitted by Imdad Ali's wife.

“End of justice demand that (the) stay for death execution may kindly be heard on (an) urgent basis on October 31, because if the application is not heard on (the) same day, the petition would become infructuous and the husband of the petitioner would be hanged early in the morning on November 2,” she said in her application.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali heard the case.

The apex court had already rejected a plea as his lawyers said Ali is unfit to be executed since he is unable to understand his crime and punishment.

Counsel for Ali's wife informed the court that the death warrant for Ali has been issued, however he has not yet been executed.

The hearing of the case will resume in the second week of November.