Accessibility links

Breaking News

Pakistani Death Row Convict's Execution Suspended Over Age Issue


A Pakistani judge has issued a court order to temporarily suspend the execution of a man whose lawyers say was 14 when he was charged with murder.

The May 5 ruling was the second stay of execution for Safqat Hussain, whose case has angered rights groups and prompted mercy appeals from Hussain’s family.

Hussain was due to be executed on May 6.

His lawyers say he was 14 in 2004 when he was burnt with cigarettes and had fingernails removed until he confessed to the killing of a child.

In March, he was dressed in a white uniform ready for hanging and told to write his will before his execution was postponed while the Federal Investigation Agency looked into the question of his age.

The agency later determined he was not a juvenile at the time of the killing and a new execution date was set. But that was also challenged.

Based on reporting by Reuters and dawn.com

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG