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| Pakistan hangs 12 convicts in jails across the country | Pakistan hangs 12 convicts in jails across the country |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Pakistan has hanged 12 convicts, the largest number of people executed on the same day since the country overturned a ban on executions. | |
| The men were terrorists, murderers or guilty of "heinous crimes", an interior ministry spokesman said. | The men were terrorists, murderers or guilty of "heinous crimes", an interior ministry spokesman said. |
| At least 27 convicts have been executed since the moratorium was lifted, most of them militants, Reuters reported. | At least 27 convicts have been executed since the moratorium was lifted, most of them militants, Reuters reported. |
| It is estimated there are more than 8,000 Pakistanis on death row. Rights groups say many convictions are unsafe. | It is estimated there are more than 8,000 Pakistanis on death row. Rights groups say many convictions are unsafe. |
| A moratorium on hangings was lifted for terror-related crimes after a Taliban attack in December killed more than 150 people, mostly children, at a school in Peshawar. | A moratorium on hangings was lifted for terror-related crimes after a Taliban attack in December killed more than 150 people, mostly children, at a school in Peshawar. |
| But last week it became clear that officials had widened the capital punishment policy to include all prisoners on death row whose appeals had been rejected. | But last week it became clear that officials had widened the capital punishment policy to include all prisoners on death row whose appeals had been rejected. |
| The subsequent executions have taken place despite calls by the UN not to resume them. | The subsequent executions have taken place despite calls by the UN not to resume them. |
| Human rights groups say that prisoners often do not receive a fair trial at the hands of Pakistan's outdated criminal justice system and that torture has often been used to force confessions from poorly-trained police. | Human rights groups say that prisoners often do not receive a fair trial at the hands of Pakistan's outdated criminal justice system and that torture has often been used to force confessions from poorly-trained police. |
| Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reported that the latest executions took place in Multan, Karachi, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Jhang. | Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reported that the latest executions took place in Multan, Karachi, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Jhang. |
| It reported that the hanging of one man in Multan was delayed at the last minute following an agreement between the defendant and the family of the murder victim. | It reported that the hanging of one man in Multan was delayed at the last minute following an agreement between the defendant and the family of the murder victim. |
| On Thursday, the government is due to execute Shafqat Hussain, a prisoner who lawyers say was aged only 14 when he was convicted 10 years ago of the kidnap and manslaughter of a child. | On Thursday, the government is due to execute Shafqat Hussain, a prisoner who lawyers say was aged only 14 when he was convicted 10 years ago of the kidnap and manslaughter of a child. |
| They say that his confession was extracted after nine days of torture. | They say that his confession was extracted after nine days of torture. |