First execution in seven years at Balochistan’s Machh Jail

QUETTA: A death row convict was hanged to death at Balochistan’s Machh Jail early on Wednesday morning, in the first execution carried out in the province in seven years.

According to prison authorities, death row inmate Amir Hamza murdered a person over a trivial matter back in 1995.

An additional sessions judge in Sibi had issued the verdict of Hamza’z capital punishment in 2004.

President Mamnoon Hussain on March 30 dismissed his plea for pardon.

The prison also houses former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) worker Saulat Mirza, who came to limelight again for hurling serious allegations at his former party and its chief Altaf Hussain in a confession video last month.

His execution has been postponed three times since his video statement went on air. The latest stay was granted by President Mamnoon for 30 days starting April 1.

Meanwhile, another death row convict was executed at Bahawalpur Central Jail on Tuesday morning.

Over 60 convicts have now been hanged to death in Pakistan since the country lifted a moratorium on capital punishment in December.

Reintroducing the death penalty was part of the government's move to step up its fight against militants and criminals after Taliban attackers killed over 130 children at Peshawar’s Army Public School in December.

The death penalty moratorium, in force since 2008, was initially lifted only in terrorism cases, but the government extended it to all capital crimes last month.