A legal notice is seeking a comprehensive list of persons whose sentences were commuted, suspended or reduced by the president under Article 49 of the Constitution from January 1991 to July 2024.
Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Md Omar Faruk sent the notice to the home secretary, law secretary, cabinet secretary and secretary to the president on Sunday, seeking release and publication of the above-mentioned list.
The notice read, “It is very regrettable that for many years the president has been using his powers to pardon or commute the sentences of many criminals convicted of murder.
“Many death row convicts and convicts sentenced to life in prison have been released from jail due to presidential pardon and are spreading terror in the society once again as mafia dons.”
It continues, “I or we as a citizen have the right to know how, by what process, at whose recommendation or instigation, the president pardons the tainted, odious, infamous convicts.
“Article 49 of the Constitution regarding pardon of the President also needs to be looked into whether there is abuse of power, or any political purpose, or use of any political force.”
The notice further states, “What is the source of the president's power to pardon, or what is the process by which he does so by any law, or what are the criteria for pardoning? People need to know that.
“Therefore, I hereby request you to provide me within 15 days of receipt of the notice, the list of names of persons who have been pardoned or suspended by the President from January 1991 to July 2024 and the details of the process by which they were pardoned.”
The notice also mentioned that if the list of those exempted from punishment is not received within the specified time, a writ will be filed in the High Court.
