Pakistan to execute 500 terror convicts in coming weeks.
(AFP) Pakistan plans to execute about 500 militants in coming weeks, senior officials say, after the government lifted a moratorium on the death penalty in terrorism cases.
Pakistan's prime minister Nawaz Sharif lifted the six-year moratorium after last week's Taliban massacre at a school in Peshawar, in which 149 people - 133 of them children - were killed in the deadliest terror attack in Pakistani history.
Six militants have been hanged so far after the death penalty was reinstated for terrorism-related cases.
"[The] interior ministry has finalised the cases of 500 convicts who have exhausted all the appeals," a senior government official said on condition of anonymity.
"Their mercy petitions have been turned down by the president and their executions will take place in coming weeks."
A second official confirmed the information.
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