Islamabad: Islamabad High Court (IHC) today has deferred the execution of death row inmate Shafqat Hussain for further two days however, the court would decide the fate of the accused on Friday.

IHC termed the government’s step of making committee to inspect Shafqat Hussain’s age prima facie ‘illegal’. Justice Athar Minallah heard the case, during which he remarked that the court’s decision regarding Shafqat’s execution is final and Supreme Court (SC) possesses no prerogative of permitting to make committee, to inspect the felon’s age after the final verdict of IHC.

The counsel Tariq said that we also have the same point that why the court had not raised the issue of convict’s age, before the final decision. He told the judge that SC disposed of Shafqat’s petition, without determining his age.

Subsequently, the court adjourned the hearing till May 8. Earlier, IHC has halted the execution of death row convict Shafqat Hussain for one day and directed the counsels to complete arguments as early as possible.

Hussain was convicted for kidnapping and killing a boy in his youth. He was sentenced to death punishment then but execution was halted until he came of age. Further, death warrant was issued by the court, but due to his controversial age at the time of verdict, the execution was halted until his age was confirmed.