[Geo.TV] DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Government executed first prisoner in four years on Thursday, hanging a convicted murderer who was a former army serviceman, police said.Despite the execution of Muhammad Hussain in northwest Pakistain, activists do not expect the country's moratorium on the death penalty to be lifted since this case involved someone in the military. The last execution, in December 2008, also involved the death of a soldier.
Pakistain has more than 8,000 inmates on death row, but a moratorium on executions has been in effect for four years. Pak officials say they are working on a draft law to ban the death penalty.
Human rights organizations support the ban, saying that the courts and police in Pakistain are too inept to ensure a fair trial.
| That being the charitable view... |
"Most come from underprivileged backgrounds and don't have access to good legal help."
Thursday's execution came after the head of Pakistain's powerful army rejected a plea for clemency, Yusuf said. After the army rejected the plea, the president did not defer the execution, she said.