Pakistani court halts death row convict's execution

The Lahore High Court (LHC) Friday put on hold the execution of a death row convict, media reported.

A two-judge bench of the court headed by Justice Abdus Sami Khan halted the execution of Faiz Ahmad in response to a petition filed by the convict's counsel Abdul Khaliq, Dawn online reported.

Khaliq in a petition told the court Faiz Ahmad's appeal against the death sentence was pending in the Supreme Court since 2009 and therefore his death warrant must be set aside by the court.

Earlier Dec 24, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) issued Ahmad's death warrant on an application of a superintendent of the Faisalabad jail. Ahmad's hanging was set for Jan 14.

The superintendent stated that Ahmad was awarded the death penalty in 2006 for killing Lance Naik Tariq Mahmood in Nankana Sahib.

The court halted the execution Friday and said the ATC must clarify to the Lahore High Court as to why a death warrant was issued for his execution Dec 24 when his appeal has been pending with the apex court.

So far, seven convicts have been hanged since a moratorium on death penalty in terror-related cases was lifted Dec 17.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lifted the moratorium after the Dec 16 Taliban attack on Peshawar's Army Public School that left over 140 students and teachers killed.

The moratorium was imposed by former president Asif Ali Zardari.