Jurisprudence on Death Penalty: A Case Study of Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa’s Judgments
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The death penalty remains a contentious issue within the legal framework of many countries, including Pakistan. This paper aims to study the jurisprudence on the death penalty in Pakistan, focusing on the case study of Asif Saeed Khosa’s judgments. The primary objective is to explore whether the frequency of death penalty can be reduced through judgments/judicial pronouncements. The answer is affirmative as 5.56% of the cases, in which death penalty was ultimately upheld; developing criminal jurisprudence aligns with international human rights law reducing death penalty in practice. Thus, the paper seeks to advance legal scholarship on the death penalty by conducting a thorough review of the relevant case laws, legal literature and especially the rulings of Justice Asif Saeed Khosa.
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