Our 9/06 international DP action worked!!!

In September 2006, we wrote on behalf of Mirza Tahir Hussain, who faced execution for the murder of Jamshid Khan on 17 December 88.

Jamshid Khan was a taxi driver who was taking Mr. Hussain from Rawalpindi to Bhubar. During the trip, Mr. Khan stopped the car, drew a gun, and tried to physically and sexually assault Mr. Hussain. The gun fired during the resulting struggle, killing Mr. Khan.

We expressed our concerns about reports that the trial did not meet common and established standards of fairness, along with our opposition to the death sentence.

Happily, President Pervez Musharraf has commuted Mirza Tahir Hussain's sentence. Because he had already served 18 years in detention, the commutation resulted in his release. Mr. Hussain has already moved to the United Kingdom.

There is no way to say that one letter or another led to this outcome, but we can say that we participated in a global effort that probably saved a life.