Govt yet to decide on Afzal's mercy plea

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday night said government is in the process of deciding on the plea for clemency for Mohammad Afzal, sentenced to death in the Parliament attack case, and a final call will be taken by the President.

"The process is on," Dr Singh told reporters at the Iftar dinner hosted by him on being asked about the status of the mercy plea filed on behalf of Afzal.

"The final call will be taken by the President," he said.

The mercy

plea has been sent to the Union Home Ministry by President A P J Abdul Kalam for the government's view. The Home Ministry is awaiting a report from the government of Delhi, where the crime had taken place, on the issue.

A trial court had ordered that Afzal be hanged on Friday but the execution of the sentence has been put on hold following the mercy plea. While Afzal was given capital punishment in the December 13, 2001 attack, Shaukat Hussain Guru was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment.