Pakistan executes two more militants, 19 prisoners so far

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan today hanged two militants convicted by an anti-terrorism court, taking the number of executions to 19 since the government lifted a self-imposed moratorium on death penalty.

Mohammad Saeed alias Maulvi and Zahid Hussain alias Zahidu were executed at Central Jail Karachi and Kot Lakhpat Jail Lahore respectively, an official said on anonymity.

Saeed was convicted by an anti-terrorism court in Karachi for killing retired police deputy superintendent Syed Sabir Hussain Shah along with his son Syed Abid Hussain Shah. The victims were Shias and were killed in sectarian violence.

Saeed was convicted in April 2001. Zahidu was given death sentence by an anti-terrorism court in 2004 for killing a policeman in Multan in 2002.

Lahore high court chief justice dismissed a petition which sought directions to restrain an anti-terrorism court from issuing death warrants for him.

Extra ordinary security measures were taken around the jails, where death row prisoners were executed.

Pakistan resumed executions after lifting moratorium in the wake of attack at the Peshawar school massacre that left 150 people dead, mostly students, last month.

So far, 19 prisoners have been executed. There are more than 8,000 death row prisoners in the country.