PM voices concerns for Edinburgh man on death row in Pakistan

An Edinburgh grandfather ,sentenced to death in Pakistan for blasphemy, is in urgent need of mental health treatment.

According to campaigners at Reprieve, they have serious concerns about the mental wellbeing of Mohammed Asghar, who has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He has been convicted of blasphemy in Pakistan and faces the death penalty.

Prime Minister David Cameron has said that he is “deeply concerned” and that the UK was taking the case “very seriously”.

Lawyers for Mr Asghar finally gained access to their client this week and as a result, were able to get the necessary documents signed so that he can file his appeal against the sentence.

APPEAL: Protest have been held across Pakistan since Mr Mohammed Asghar’s detainment

But they told the charity they have concerns for his mental health and say that, despite his diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, prison medical staff remain unaware of his serious psychiatric illness and are not giving him the appropriate medication.

During their visit, it was “clear” he was in very poor health and they have stressed it is crucial he receives the expert medical treatment he urgently needs and said he appeared “pale, dehydrated, shaking and barely lucid”.

Maya Foa, director of Reprieve’s death penalty team, said: “We are extremely worried about Mr Asghar’s mental health, which appears to have seriously deteriorated.

“We are also extremely concerned by the reports that he is not being given the correct medication for his illness, putting him in a perilous position.

“We hope that the authorities in Pakistan and the UK will take all necessary steps to ensure that he gets the expert treatment he needs without delay.”

The Pakistan High Commission in London has said the mental health of Mr Asghar should be taken into account when his appeal against the death sentence for blasphemy is heard. It issued a statement as his family pleaded that he not be allowed to “die in jail”.

The Commission said it had received “messages of concern” as Mr Asghar’s family in Edinburgh said they were growing increasingly desperate over the plight of the 68-year-old retired city shopkeeper who has already spent three years in prison in Pakistan.

Mr Asghar was condemned to death by a court in Rawalpindi last week after he wrote letters, which were never posted, which he signed as “prophet” Mohammad.

The court was not told of warnings from a leading Edinburgh psychiatrist that Mr Asghar, who lived in the Capital for more than 30 years, has a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and has previously experienced delusions that he is a “holy man”.

The High Commission said it had received “pleas for leniency from UK residents and politicians, including senior Foreign Office minister Baroness Sayeeda Warsi.

Mr Asghar’s family called on the British Government to help to bring him home, where he could be treated for his mental illness. The family have launched a petition calling on Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister Alex Salmond to “intervene in the strongest possible terms to help save the life of a vulnerable British man”.

RAGE: Many Pakistanis feel strongly against the country’s blasphemy laws

The family said he had already attempted suicide unsuccessfully.

Labour’s Douglas Alexander has written to Foreign Secretary William Hague, asking him to make immediate representations to Pakistan’s government over the case.

Lawyers fear they will not be able to see him in prison until it is too late to get him to sign a secondary power of attorney and lodge an appeal. Under Pakistan law this must be lodged with the court seven days after conviction.

Baroness Warsi said she was “deeply concerned” by the case, adding: “I am personally raising this in the strongest possible terms with the Pakistani government, as are officials here and in Islamabad.”

Body of missing Edinburgh boy found

The major two-day search for a toddler in Edinburgh ended in heartbreak in the early hours of Saturday morning as the body of Mikaeel Kular was found in woodlands near his aunt’s house.

His mother, Rosdeep Kular, 33, has been detained by police in connection with the death and is due to appear in court on Monday 20th January.

The three-year-old was reported missing from his home, in Drylaw, Edinburgh, on Thursday morning, sparking a huge search by police and local residents with the initial theory that the youngster had just got up and left his home during the previous night.

On Friday, just before midnight, police confirmed they had found a body, believed to be that of Mikaeel, buried 34 miles away from the family home in a woodland area in Kirkcaldy, Fife.

Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham confirmed the news at a 1am press briefing.

He said: “The investigation into the disappearance of Mikaeel Kular has been wide-ranging and fast moving.
“As a result of inquiries the body of a young child was recovered in Fife just before midnight.

“We strongly believe this to be the body of Mikaeel.

“A person has been detained in connection with the recovery of the body and members of Mikaeel’s family have been informed.

“Our thoughts and sympathies are with them at this time.”

Members of the public had earlier reported seeing a small boy alone close to Mikaeel’s home which had given hope to the initial theory that he had simply walked out of his home.

However, despite CCTV footage backing up the claim that small boy was walking alone, the images were not clear enough to identify anybody.

More than 200 volunteers from the local community had helped in the search for the local boy and there were tearful tributes left upon the announcement of the discovery of an infant’s body.

Soft toys, candles and floral tributes were all left outside the family home following the incident.

Rosdeep Kular is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.