UN URGES PAKISTAN TO END EXECUTIONS

News York, 5 Ra’biul Awwal 1435/27 December 2014 (MINA) – The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on Pakistan to put an end to executions and re-impose the country’s moratorium on the death penalty that was recently lifted.

During a telephone conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Ban extended his condolences to the people and government of Pakistan over the December 16 assault against the Army Public School, where 149 people, mostly children, were massacred by pro-Taliban militants.

Following the deadly attack in the northwestern city of Peshawar, Pakistan lifted the moratorium on the death penalty in place for about six years, Press Tv quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Saturday.

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The UN chief added “while fully recognizing the difficult circumstances” that Pakistan is going through, he expects Islamabad to stop the executions of convicts and re-instate the moratorium on the death penalty. Sharif, for his part, promised that “all legal norms would be respected.”

Pakistan is due to execute around 500 militants in coming weeks. The country has already hanged six militants.

Pakistan’s decision to resume the execution of death-row convicts came as its political and military leaders have vowed to wipe out homegrown pro-Taliban terrorism following the recent school carnage.

During the deadly assault, a group of gunmen, reportedly dressed in military uniforms, stormed the Army Public School in Peshawar, going from classroom to classroom, shooting students and teachers.

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The militant group, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was carried out in retaliation for an ongoing Pakistani military offensive against the militants in the country’s tribal belt, which began on June 15. (T/P002/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)