Continued from Page 1 KHIZAR’S MENTAL ILLNESS 15th Jun: LHC grants him a last-minute reprieve Jail medical records show that Khizar first started exhibiting ‘psychiatric 23rd Jul: Second black warrant issued, setting 28th July as the execution date symptoms’ in February 2008, although the seeds of paranoid schizophrenia were sown long before that. By September, his illness had become severe enough to warrant a month-long hospital stay in the jail. Since then, he had constantly been prescribed powerful anti-psychotic medications such as Risperidone. Khizar’s mental health deteriorated to the point where he believed that the world was coming to an end because the Americans had landed on the moon, and the moon was now having a dire effect on the world. He believed that the solutions to the world’s problems were to be found in the toilet in his cell, through its special connection to the Earth. In his last years, Khizar was unable to take care of his body, often dressing in filthy clothes, disrobing completely, or throwing food and faeces out of his cell. Khizar’s mental illness had caused him considerable physical suffering too. Jail records show that in 2009, he was admitted to a public hospital with severe head injuries requiring urgent surgery. Khizar’s cellmates – cooped up 24 hours a day in a cell with a delusional and confused individual – had violently attacked him. Khizar’s lawyers frequently recorded seeing him injured during their visits. Eventually in 2012, the attacks became so frequent and severe that Khizar was moved to an isolated cell in the jail hospital. In early 2009, Khizar’s mother requested that her son be transferred to a proper medical facility to receive treatment. Her requests fell on deaf ears. Khizar spent the last six years of his life alone in his cell in the hospital, effectively living in solitary confinement, despite the fact that punishment for the mentally ill is not permitted under Pakistani law; not even for the most heinous offences. 25th Jul: Execution stayed 28th Jul: Four Special Rapporteurs of the UN urge Pakistan to halt Khizar's execution as it would be inconsistent with international human rights law 2016 18th May: A court-sanctioned examination by the medical board concludes unanimously that Khizar suffers from “psychosis” and “schizophrenia” 2nd Nov: NCHR initiates an inquiry into Khizar’s case on a complaint filed by JPP on the grounds of his severe mental illness 2017 10th Jan: Khizar’s third black warrant issued, scheduling his execution for 17th January 12th Jan: LHC grants him a stay 2018 6th Dec: LHC Divisional Bench dismisses petition seeking Khizar’s transfer to a mental health facility 18th Dec: NCHR orders the authorities to abstain from issuing his execution warrants until the matter is decided by the Supreme Court 2019 10th Jan: Khizar’s 4th execution warrant issued, scheduling execution for 15th Jan 12th Jan: CJ takes suo motu notice following public outcry and halts Khizar’s execution 13th Jan: UN experts urge Pakistan to halt execution of person with disability “IF A PERSON IS MENTALLY ILL, HOW CAN YOU HANG THEM?” 14th Jan: Two-member bench of SC hears JPP’s petition, refers Khizar’s case to a larger bench currently hearing the Kanizan-Imdad case; also orders his fresh medical examination by a Special Medical Board – FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE SAQIB NISAR, 15th Mar: Khizar shifted to Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, in critical condition. He had stopped eating and taking his medication during the hearing of mentally ill death row prisoners Kanizan Bibi and Imdad Ali 22nd Mar: Khizar passes away in the hospital