Pakistan dismisses EU's concerns over death penalties

Pakistan on Friday rejected concerns expressed by the European Union over death penalties in the country, stressing that it has not violated any international laws in executions.

The EU on Thursday called on Pakistan to reinstitute the moratorium on death penalties and to "fully respect all of its international obligations."

The government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lifted moratorium on death penalty following the Taliban attack on an army-run school in Peshawar in December last year, killing nearly 150 children, teachers and staff members.

The EU said at least 150 people have been executed in Pakistan since December 2014, when the government lifted a moratorium on executions in place since 2008. Former President Asif Ali Zardari had declared a moratorium on the death penalties.

"This represents a major step backwards in Pakistan's record on human rights," an EU statement issued from its Pakistan mission said.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman on Friday defended the death penalty and dismissed all objections.

"Pakistan has not violated any international law. Pakistan is a member of international covenant on civil and political rights," Qazi Khalilullah told a weekly briefing.

The Pakistani government had earlier started implementation of the pending death penalties in terrorism-related cases and later expanded it to all cases in which the courts had delivered death sentences.

"No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life," the spokesman said, adding the Pakistani constitution and legal system contains death penalty, which is within the parameters of the international law.

Pakistan argues that the death penalty will discourage terrorism and serious crimes.

Earlier, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the executions were being carried out in accordance with the country's law and constitution. Endi