President extends moratorium on executions

PM Nawaz has said that he won't come under any pressure in relation to the policy on the death penalty.

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari asked the government to extend the moratorium on the death penalty that has been in place since the last five years on Sunday, Express News reported.

Earlier, the newly elected Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) government had announced to keep the policy unchanged after assuming power.

According to a government spokesperson, the policy has been kept in place in accordance with the directives of President Zardari to the government.

Currently out of the country, the President planned to discuss the policy with the current PML-N government and has hence asked the policy to remain unchanged for now, the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that he will not come under pressure from any threat related to the policy on the death penalty.