Click to play videoNew Delhi: On December 13, 2001, an attack on the pillar of Indian democracy shook the nation. Five Pakistani terrorists attacked Parliament and were killed by security personnel. Nine security personnel also lost their lives.
Exactly a year later, a trial court awarded death penalty to Shaukat Hussain Guru, Mohammad Afzal and Delhi University Lecturer SAR Geelani while sentencing Shaukat's wife Afsan Guru to five years imprisonment for their role in the conspiracy.
On appeal, the Delhi High Court in October 2003 upheld the death penalty of Afzal and Shaukat but acquitted Geelani and Afsan Guru. The Delhi police appealed against the acquittals.
Two years later in August 2005, the Supreme Court came out with its verdict.
While the acquittal of SAR Geelani and Afsan was upheld, Shaukat Hussain's death sentence was reduced to 10 years imprisonment.
Mohammad Afzal's death sentence was however upheld once again. Afzal was accused of procuring arms and ammunition, purchasing the car used in the attack, providing terrorists accommodation in Delhi and "actively" participating in the conspiracy.
The Supreme Court stated, "The collective conscience of the society will be satisfied only if the death penalty is awarded to Afzal."
In January 2007 the Supreme Court put the curtain down on the Parliament attack case by dismissing the plea of Afzal, seeking review of his death sentence, saying 'there is no merit' in his curative petition.
Afzal's hope in escaping the gallows now lies solely in his pending mercy petition before the President.
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