Govt directs execution of death penalties

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Interior has issued directives in writing to allow execution of death penalties in terrorism related matters, following the terrorist attack on Peshawar school that left 148 people, mostly students, dead.

The notification, whose copy is obtained by The News, says ‘in view of the Peshawar incident, all death sentences only in terrorism related matters, in terms of third schedule of the Anti Terrorism Act (ATA), particularly related and affiliated with proscribed organizations and outfits, where all legal avenues of appeal and mercy have been exhausted are to be executed strictly per law’.

It further directs immediate implementation in cases where black warrants have already been issued but execution was stayed due to the moratorium on capital punishment.

The notification addressed to the chief secretaries, home secretaries and IG prisons, says necessary legal action for obtaining black warrants from courts of competent jurisdiction be initiated immediately.