Pak death-row prisoner's execution stayed for fourth time

Pakistani death-row prisoner Shafqat Hussain, who was sentenced to death in 2004 on kidnapping and murder charges, has been given a last-minute reprieve after his execution was stayed a fourth time.

According to the Dawn, he was imprisoned and sentenced to death in 2004 for kidnapping and murdering a seven years old boy who lived in an apartment in Karachi.

Human rights organizations and civil society representatives have criticised his execution considering his age at the time of the sentencing.

International bodies such as Amnesty International and United Nations have also been pressuring authorities into halting Shafqat Hussain's execution.

Last month, an executive inquiry to determine whether Shafqat was a juvenile at the time of his sentencing concluded that he was 23 years old when the punishment was handed down.