Islamabad, Nov. 15 (ANI): Pakistan has carried out its first execution in over five years, sparking criticism from human rights activists.
Mohammed Hussain, a former army soldier, was hanged early on Thursday morning at Mianwali city in central Punjab province, said jail official, Abdullah Khan Niazi.
Hussain, a resident of Langarwala Pul of Sahiwal Tehsil Sargodha District, was sentenced to death in 2009 after he killed his senior officer in 2008, reports The Dawn.
It was the first execution since the current government came to power in 2008. President Asif Ali Zardari had placed an unofficial moratorium on executions after he was elected. Every three months the presidency issued a letter through respective home departments, staying all executions.
But Niazi said that the president and Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, rejected Hussain's mercy petition.
Zaman Khan, an official at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, criticized the execution, saying that it indicates the government has changed its policy. (ANI)
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