New Delhi, April 28
The Supreme Court today stayed the execution of Pakistani terrorist Mohd Arif, alias Ashfaq, sentenced to death for the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) attack on an Army battalion stationed at Red Fort here in 2000 killing three jawans.

A three-member Bench headed by Chief Justice RM Lodha also issued notice to the Centre on Ashfaq’s petition, pleading for his release. He said he had spent 13 years in jail, which was equivalent to serving life sentence, and as such hanging him would amount to punishing him twice for the same crime for which there was no legal provision. The petitioner also pleaded that he was suffering from physical and mental illness which was an additional ground for commutation under SC rulings. Confirming the death sentence awarded to Ashfaq, the SC had ruled on August 10, 2011, that he did not deserve anything less as he was part of both the conspiracy to wage a war against India and its execution.