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| What is behind Pakistan's dramatic rise in executions? | What is behind Pakistan's dramatic rise in executions? |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Last December Pakistan lifted a seven-year moratorium on executions in response to a deadly Taliban attack on a school in Peshawar. Since then at least 157 people have been put to death - many of whom were not convicted of terror offences. | |
| The BBC's Claire Brennan looks into some of their cases and examines the reasons behind Pakistan's dramatic shift in death penalty policy. | The BBC's Claire Brennan looks into some of their cases and examines the reasons behind Pakistan's dramatic shift in death penalty policy. |
| Who is on death row? | Who is on death row? |
| Pakistan is believed to have the largest number of death row inmates in the world. Some 8,200 prisoners are awaiting execution - many of whom have been in jail for over a decade. | Pakistan is believed to have the largest number of death row inmates in the world. Some 8,200 prisoners are awaiting execution - many of whom have been in jail for over a decade. |
| The vast majority are men, however there are some women - most notably the Christian Asia Bibi who was convicted of blasphemy in 2010. | The vast majority are men, however there are some women - most notably the Christian Asia Bibi who was convicted of blasphemy in 2010. |
| The mother-of-five was accused of insulting the Prophet Mohammed and sentenced to death, despite her insistence that the evidence against her had been fabricated. | The mother-of-five was accused of insulting the Prophet Mohammed and sentenced to death, despite her insistence that the evidence against her had been fabricated. |
| Some 27 crimes carry the death sentence in Pakistan, including terrorism, rape and adultery. Figures from the Justice Project Pakistan, show most people facing execution have been convicted of a "lethal offence". | Some 27 crimes carry the death sentence in Pakistan, including terrorism, rape and adultery. Figures from the Justice Project Pakistan, show most people facing execution have been convicted of a "lethal offence". |
| However, in Punjab, for example, 226 prisoners were placed on death row for "non-lethal offences". | However, in Punjab, for example, 226 prisoners were placed on death row for "non-lethal offences". |
| Source: Justice Project Pakistan. * 2012 figures - Sindh figures from 2014 | Source: Justice Project Pakistan. * 2012 figures - Sindh figures from 2014 |
| There are also concerns that up to 1,000 people convicted as juveniles are facing execution - something that is illegal under international law. But proving your age in Pakistan can be difficult, particularly in poor communities where many births are not registered. | There are also concerns that up to 1,000 people convicted as juveniles are facing execution - something that is illegal under international law. But proving your age in Pakistan can be difficult, particularly in poor communities where many births are not registered. |
| Aftab Bahadur was put to death on Wednesday, even though human rights campaigners say there is evidence which proves he was a minor when he was convicted of murder in 1992. They also say he was tortured into giving a confession. | Aftab Bahadur was put to death on Wednesday, even though human rights campaigners say there is evidence which proves he was a minor when he was convicted of murder in 1992. They also say he was tortured into giving a confession. |
| On Tuesday the execution of Shafqat Hussain was postponed by the Supreme Court just hours before he was due to be hanged. | On Tuesday the execution of Shafqat Hussain was postponed by the Supreme Court just hours before he was due to be hanged. |
| He was found guilty of killing and kidnapping a seven-year-old boy in 2004 - but his lawyers also maintain he was underage when the alleged crimes were committed. | He was found guilty of killing and kidnapping a seven-year-old boy in 2004 - but his lawyers also maintain he was underage when the alleged crimes were committed. |
| Why was the moratorium lifted? | Why was the moratorium lifted? |
| The massacre of 132 children in Peshawar last December was the catalyst for the reintroduction of the death penalty. | The massacre of 132 children in Peshawar last December was the catalyst for the reintroduction of the death penalty. |
| Amid public anger, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced the moratorium would be lifted for terror convicts - before eventually resuming executions for all death penalty offences. | Amid public anger, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced the moratorium would be lifted for terror convicts - before eventually resuming executions for all death penalty offences. |
| The move was condemned by the United Nations and human rights campaigners who warned it would do little to impede the Taliban. | The move was condemned by the United Nations and human rights campaigners who warned it would do little to impede the Taliban. |
| "The government is touting executions as the way of tackling the country's law and order problems," said Maya Pastakia, a Pakistan campaigner for Amnesty International. | "The government is touting executions as the way of tackling the country's law and order problems," said Maya Pastakia, a Pakistan campaigner for Amnesty International. |
| "But there is no compelling evidence that the death penalty will act as particular deterrent over and above any other form of punishment. A suicide bomber won't be deterred by the death penalty." | "But there is no compelling evidence that the death penalty will act as particular deterrent over and above any other form of punishment. A suicide bomber won't be deterred by the death penalty." |
| She believes lifting the moratorium was "a lazy response" to dealing with the huge numbers of people on death row. | She believes lifting the moratorium was "a lazy response" to dealing with the huge numbers of people on death row. |
| "We have seen a conveyor belt of executions. People who were implicated in terrorism crime, as well as people convicted for straight-forward murder, manslaughter and kidnapping. | "We have seen a conveyor belt of executions. People who were implicated in terrorism crime, as well as people convicted for straight-forward murder, manslaughter and kidnapping. |
| "The government seems entirely intransigent on this issue." | "The government seems entirely intransigent on this issue." |
| Who has been executed and why? | Who has been executed and why? |
| The first series of hangings took place at Faisalabad jail in December - and are now almost an everyday occurrence across the country. | |
| Many prisoners have been put to death for terror offences, including three Baloch insurgents who hijacked a passenger plane in 1998. | |
| Others were found guilty of political killings, like Saulat Mirza - a former worker for the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) who was convicted of murdering the head of Karachi's power utility service. | Others were found guilty of political killings, like Saulat Mirza - a former worker for the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) who was convicted of murdering the head of Karachi's power utility service. |
| But some cases have attracted attention over concerns about the legitimacy of their trials. | But some cases have attracted attention over concerns about the legitimacy of their trials. |
| Shafqat Hussain "was at worst a common criminal", according to his lawyer Sarah Belal, yet his case was processed by an anti-terrorism court. | Shafqat Hussain "was at worst a common criminal", according to his lawyer Sarah Belal, yet his case was processed by an anti-terrorism court. |
| "It goes to the heart of all the problems with the judicial system," she told the BBC. "He belongs to a poor community. He was not a terrorist." | "It goes to the heart of all the problems with the judicial system," she told the BBC. "He belongs to a poor community. He was not a terrorist." |
| Ms Belal says Shafqat Hussain was tortured for nine days before giving a confession, which he later withdrew. All other evidence against him was "purely circumstantial". | |
| She says there has never been a credible investigation into his age or the validity of his torture claims. | |
| The decision to postpone his execution on Tuesday is the fourth time he's been granted a last-minute reprieve. Ms Belal says she will continue to fight on her client's behalf until his execution is permanently halted. | The decision to postpone his execution on Tuesday is the fourth time he's been granted a last-minute reprieve. Ms Belal says she will continue to fight on her client's behalf until his execution is permanently halted. |
| "At the very least the government has to answer on what grounds they've got to proceed. They have to determine his age and produce and release evidence." | "At the very least the government has to answer on what grounds they've got to proceed. They have to determine his age and produce and release evidence." |
| Cases like this are not uncommon, according to Maya Pastakia. | Cases like this are not uncommon, according to Maya Pastakia. |
| "Trials are often characterised by lack of access to fair legal counsel," said Ms Pastakia. "Often the accused in the initial stages will be given a state appointed lawyer who is often poorly trained and lacks competence. | "Trials are often characterised by lack of access to fair legal counsel," said Ms Pastakia. "Often the accused in the initial stages will be given a state appointed lawyer who is often poorly trained and lacks competence. |
| "All judicial systems make mistakes and as long as the death penalty persists, innocent people will be executed. There is no going back." | "All judicial systems make mistakes and as long as the death penalty persists, innocent people will be executed. There is no going back." |
| How does Pakistan compare with the rest of the world? | How does Pakistan compare with the rest of the world? |
| The issue of capital punishment sparks heated debates around the world. Although 99 nations have abolished the death penalty, 22 countries carried out executions in 2014. | The issue of capital punishment sparks heated debates around the world. Although 99 nations have abolished the death penalty, 22 countries carried out executions in 2014. |
| China and North Korea are believed to be among the world's top executioners, however specific figures are difficult to obtain, because they are concealed by the authorities. | China and North Korea are believed to be among the world's top executioners, however specific figures are difficult to obtain, because they are concealed by the authorities. |
| Amnesty International does collate figures from other countries, which show Iran and Saudi Arabia are responsible for the largest share of executions. | Amnesty International does collate figures from other countries, which show Iran and Saudi Arabia are responsible for the largest share of executions. |
| Iran confirmed 289 deaths last year, but 454 others were not officially acknowledged, Amnesty says. In Saudi Arabia at least 90 executions were carried out. | Iran confirmed 289 deaths last year, but 454 others were not officially acknowledged, Amnesty says. In Saudi Arabia at least 90 executions were carried out. |
| Pakistan is quickly catching up. Amnesty said on 10 June that 150 prisoners had been executed so far in 2015 - that compares to 90 in Saudi Arabia during roughly the same period. By the end of April the Iranian authorities had announced 130 executions, but 222 others were reported by other sources. |