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Pakistan 'tops death row league' | Pakistan 'tops death row league' |
(20 minutes later) | |
Pakistan has more people imprisoned facing execution than any other country in the world, human rights group Amnesty International says. | Pakistan has more people imprisoned facing execution than any other country in the world, human rights group Amnesty International says. |
Nearly a third of the world's 24,000 death row prisoners are in Pakistan - "often held in extremely over-crowded conditions", Amnesty says. | Nearly a third of the world's 24,000 death row prisoners are in Pakistan - "often held in extremely over-crowded conditions", Amnesty says. |
Its annual report on the death penalty said the number of people executed in 2006 fell by 25%, compared with 2005. | Its annual report on the death penalty said the number of people executed in 2006 fell by 25%, compared with 2005. |
But Pakistan was one of a few countries where executions rose sharply. | But Pakistan was one of a few countries where executions rose sharply. |
Pakistan's interior minister has dismissed any suggestion of abolishing the death penalty. | Pakistan's interior minister has dismissed any suggestion of abolishing the death penalty. |
Map of executions in 2006 | Map of executions in 2006 |
'Grim toll' | 'Grim toll' |
The Amnesty report said that at least 1,591 people had been executed in 25 countries last year, compared with 2,148 people in 2005. | The Amnesty report said that at least 1,591 people had been executed in 25 countries last year, compared with 2,148 people in 2005. |
Capital punishment is always cruel and unnecessary and doesn't deter crime Kate Allen, Amnesty International Death row man's freedom | Capital punishment is always cruel and unnecessary and doesn't deter crime Kate Allen, Amnesty International Death row man's freedom |
It said the vast majority of those executed in 2006 were in China (1,010), followed by Iran (177), Pakistan (82), Iraq (65), Sudan (65) and the US (53). | It said the vast majority of those executed in 2006 were in China (1,010), followed by Iran (177), Pakistan (82), Iraq (65), Sudan (65) and the US (53). |
The figure in Pakistan had nearly trebled from 31 the previous year, Amnesty said. | The figure in Pakistan had nearly trebled from 31 the previous year, Amnesty said. |
The group's UK Director, Kate Allen, said: "Last year saw a slight drop in execution numbers but it was another grim death toll around the world. | The group's UK Director, Kate Allen, said: "Last year saw a slight drop in execution numbers but it was another grim death toll around the world. |
"We are particularly concerned about a disturbing 'revival' of executions in countries like Iraq, Sudan and Pakistan. | "We are particularly concerned about a disturbing 'revival' of executions in countries like Iraq, Sudan and Pakistan. |
"We urgently need to see 'death penalty governments' issuing bans on all imminent executions, especially President Musharraf in Pakistan." | "We urgently need to see 'death penalty governments' issuing bans on all imminent executions, especially President Musharraf in Pakistan." |
However, Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao told the BBC: "We have our own laws, inherited from British times and they are applied very judiciously. | However, Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao told the BBC: "We have our own laws, inherited from British times and they are applied very judiciously. |
READ THE REPORT Amnesty International: Stop the state killing [92.9KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | |
"We feel that the death sentence is a deterrent, without it maybe there would be more cases of serious crimes like murders." | "We feel that the death sentence is a deterrent, without it maybe there would be more cases of serious crimes like murders." |
Amnesty says 91% of all executions take place in the six countries listed above. Many are sentenced after torture and unfair trials, the group says. | Amnesty says 91% of all executions take place in the six countries listed above. Many are sentenced after torture and unfair trials, the group says. |
Amnesty says that more than 7,200 people are on death row in Pakistan, a figure which was roughly similar six months ago. | Amnesty says that more than 7,200 people are on death row in Pakistan, a figure which was roughly similar six months ago. |
But the sharp jump in numbers of people being executed makes this a particularly deadly combination, the group says. | But the sharp jump in numbers of people being executed makes this a particularly deadly combination, the group says. |
It criticised death row conditions in Pakistan. | It criticised death row conditions in Pakistan. |
"In some cases 12 death row prisoners are reportedly being held in 4m-by-3m cells designed for one person," the group said. | "In some cases 12 death row prisoners are reportedly being held in 4m-by-3m cells designed for one person," the group said. |
It said wealthier convicts were often able to escape execution under laws which allow relatives of murder victims to accept compensation and pardon the offender. | It said wealthier convicts were often able to escape execution under laws which allow relatives of murder victims to accept compensation and pardon the offender. |
Trend 'down' | Trend 'down' |
Amnesty said its execution figures were "minimum only" and that countries like China killed far more people than official statistics showed.Briton Mirza Tahir Hussain spent years on Pakistan's death row | |
But the report did note new safeguards in China meaning that all death sentences now had to be approved by China's Supreme People's Court. | But the report did note new safeguards in China meaning that all death sentences now had to be approved by China's Supreme People's Court. |
And it said "the underlying global trend is towards less frequent usage and lower numbers of death sentences being imposed". | And it said "the underlying global trend is towards less frequent usage and lower numbers of death sentences being imposed". |
To date 128 countries had abolished the death penalty, with the Philippines the latest of 30 states to do so in the past 10 years. | To date 128 countries had abolished the death penalty, with the Philippines the latest of 30 states to do so in the past 10 years. |
"While 69 countries still retain the punishment less than half that number are currently carrying out executions," the report said. | "While 69 countries still retain the punishment less than half that number are currently carrying out executions," the report said. |
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