Hanging Judges

A Pakistani court acquitted Tahir Mirza Hussain of murder 10 years ago. So why is he facing execution for that crime in just a couple of weeks? Hussain, a British-Pakistani, had come to visit relatives 18 years ago and he says a tax driver pulled a gun on him and sexually assaulted him. During a struggle, he shot the taxi driver. He reported the incident to police and was arrested. In 1989, he was sentenced to death. In 1992, the nation's highest court, citing serious flaws in the prosecution case, ordered a new trial. And in 1996, it acquitted him on all charges. But before he could be released, his case was referred to an Islamic court, and in 1998, in a 2-1 vote, three judges again found him guilty and sentenced him to death. The dissenting judge accused police of introducing false witnesses and fabricating evidence.