Pakistan to Execute 500 Terrorists Following School Massacre
19 October 2018 16:27 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Islamabad – Pakistan plans to execute around 500 militants after the government lifted a moratorium last week on the death penalty in terror cases following a Taliban school massacre.
“Interior ministry has finalized the cases of 500 convicts who have exhausted all the appeals, their mercy petitions have been turned down by the president and their executions will take place in coming weeks,” a senior government official told AFP.
The Taliban attack on the military school in Peshawar, which killed 149 people last Tuesday, caused the government to lift the death penalty moratorium, which has been in effect since 2008.
Six militants have been hanged since Friday. Of the six hanged so far, five were involved in a failed attempt to assassinate President Pervez Musharraf in 2003, while one was involved in a 2009 attack on army headquarters.
Police, troops and paramilitary rangers have been deployed across the country and airports and prisons put on red alert as the executions take place and troops intensify operations against Taliban militants in northwestern tribal areas.
This policy was criticized by the Human Rights Watchdog as the United Nations asked Pakistan to reconsider the option.
NEWS.COM.AU | MARIA RITA
