ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The federal interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said that awarding
capital punishment is an internal matter of Pakistan as the country has hanged 24 convicts since resuming executions in December last year.
In a meeting with the British High Commissioner Philip Barton in Islamabad on Wednesday, the minister however said that he understands the concern of friends in the international community on the issue.
A moratorium on the death penalty in all capital cases in Pakistan was lifted on Tuesday. Though Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had already lifted a six-year moratorium on death penalty for those convicted for terrorism in the wake of a Taliban Peshawar school massacre.
Talking to the British envoy, the minister discussed matters related to bilateral relations between Pakistan and United Kingdom, regional situation as well as lifting of moratorium on capital punishment in Pakistan.
The interior minister said that concrete measures being taken under the national action plan clearly reflect the will of the nation to eliminate extremism and to secure peace for the country and beyond.
The minister said that pursuing fight against militants and extremists to its logical conclusion is the foremost priority.
On the occasion, the British High Commissioner appreciated the efforts of the Government and the people of Pakistan towards fighting militancy and terrorism.
