EU calls for reinstitution of death penalty moratorium in Pakistan

BRUSSELS: The European Union (EU) has called on Pakistan to re-institute the moratorium on death penalty and to respect fully all of its international obligations.

A statement by an EU spokesperson in Brussels regarding executions in Pakistan, said that the EU is opposed to capital punishment in all cases and has consistently called for its universal abolition.

The spokesperson further said that “Pakistan's obligations under domestic and international law prohibit the death sentence for crimes committed by persons under 18 years of age and require prompt and impartial investigation where there is reasonable ground to believe that torture has been committed.”

He also said that effective implementation of the international conventions is a requirement under the EU's GSP+ Regulation.

The spokesperson added that “At least 150 people have been executed in Pakistan since December 2014, when the government lifted a moratorium on executions in place since 2008. This represents a major step backwards in Pakistan's record on human rights.”