Amnesty International has asked Pakistan to immediately scrap the plans to carry out its first civilian execution over the past six years and sought steps towards the abolition of capital punishment.
Shoaib Sarwar, a death row prisoner convicted on murder charges in 1998, is set to be hanged in a Rawalpindi jail on September 18.
“This execution should be halted immediately,” said David Griffiths, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia-Pacific Director.
Pakistan has not hanged any civilian since 2008 and last execution of a soldier was carried out by military in 2012.
“Instead of moving to resume executions, authorities should formalise a moratorium on the death penalty as a first step towards full abolition,” said Mr. Griffiths.
