PESHAWAR – A day after terrorists killed 141 people in an attack on a school in Peshawar, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has approved abolishment of moratorium on the execution of death penalty in terrorism-related cases.
The assault on the army-run school in the northwestern city of Peshawar, the deadliest terror attack in Pakistan s history, has triggered widespread revulsion.
Political and military leaders have vowed to wipe out all the terrorists, who have killed thousands of ordinary Pakistanis in recent years.
"The prime minister has approved abolishment of moratorium on the execution of death penalty in terrorism-related cases," an official from Sharif s office said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif had advised the Prime Minister to hang all the convincted terrorists, sources told.
Hanging remains on the Pakistani statute book and judges continue to pass the death sentence, but a de facto moratorium on civilian executions has been in place since 2008.
Only one person has been executed since then, a soldier convicted by a court martial and hanged in November 2012.
Rights campaign group Amnesty International estimates that Pakistan has more than 8,000 prisoners on death row, most of whom have exhausted the appeals process.
APC meeting underway in Peshawar
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday announced that to end Pakistan’s moratorium on the death penalty in terror-related cases.
Addressing the All Parties Conference (APC) he said all have gathered here is a proof that we’re united to counter terrorism.
May God bless the departed souls of the martyrs, prayed PM. PM Nawaz said operation Zarb-e-Azb is committed to wipe off terrorists and will soon eradicate the nuisance of terrorism from the state completely.
Decision to launch operation against the terrorists was taken after a series of sittings, meetings and negotiations but to no end result, he added.
PM said Pakistan has laid grave sacrifices to combat terrorism and Pakistan Army determined to swipe away.
Wagah border attack and Peshawar attack were the aftermaths of operation Zarb-e-Azb.
He said ATC has not given exemplary punishments to the terrorist that lead to havoc adding that terrorists who escape trials through court go back to join the pack of terrorists to prepare attacks again.
Political parties would have to think of solutions not only for FATA but other provinces too, he added.
He informed that Army Chief General Raheel Sharif has left for Afghanistan to meet its Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and its Army Chief.
The conference is expected to demand Afghanistan to hand over Mullah Fazlullah to Pakistan and urge Afghanistan to launch operation against terrorists hiding in Afghanistan.
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