MULHOLLAND QUESTIONS PRIME MINISTER ON MIRZA TAHIR AND PRINCE'S VISIT

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 18th Oct 2006

Leeds MP Greg Mulholland questioned the Prime Minister in Parliament today about the impending execution of Mirza Tahir Hussain in Pakistan and the visit of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to the country.

Greg asked the Prime Minister what representations he and the Government were making on Mirza Tahir's behalf and if he felt the royal visit, which would coincide with the execution, should go ahead.

Commenting Greg said:

"I am encouraged that the Prime Minister agrees that if this sentence is carried out that it would be a terrible miscarriage of justice and that he and the Government have pledged to do all they can to prevent it.

"The Prime Minister must use absolutely everything at his disposal to resolve this case. Only intervention at the highest level can save this man's life.

"No civilised state can execute a man following such a deeply unsafe conviction. It is time for justice in this case and to bring Mirza Tahir back to his family in Leeds where he belongs."