In the last six months, Pakistan has executed more people than Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia executed 90 people, while the USA executed 14 people (both in the same period)

The government has carried out 150 executions in the last six months, becoming one of the world’s most prolific executioners, surpassing countries like Saudi Arabia.

The 150th execution means that the number of executions in Pakistan has already surpassed that of Saudi Arabia, which executed 90 people, and the United States, which executed 14 people (both in the same period).

Pakistan had placed a moratorium on the death penalty, which began in March 2008 and was lifted in wake of the brutal Peshawar school attack that killed over 130 children on December 16, 2014.

Read: What the reinstatement of the death penalty entails

Initially, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lifted the moratorium only on executions linked to terrorism offences, meaning around 50 prisoners convicted of these offences were once again facing execution.

On March 10, the moratorium was, however, lifted entirely, meaning that around 8,500 people sentenced to death would face the gallows.

Since then, numerous executions have been carried out. According to human rights organisation Reprieve, last Thursday marked the 150th execution since the moratorium was lifted.

Lawmakers have stated that they plan to execute several more inmates on death row, despite international concerns over the use of torture to extract forced ‘confessions’.

Those who are facing the threat of being hung by the noose are also thought to have been sentenced by juveniles, a breach of both local and international laws.

Along with a majority of nations, Pakistan is also a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which forbids the execution or sentencing to death of those under 18.

Read: SC adjourns Shafqat Hussain's appeal hearing till tomorrow

A 2013 study conducted by Reprieve and the Justice Project Pakistan looked at 30 Pakistani death row prisoners. It found that 10% of these prisoners were arrested and sentenced to death while still under 18.

"Should this figure hold true across Pakistan's death row, there could be more than 800 child offenders among the 8,261 prisoners currently sentenced to death," the study said.

This article originally appeared in The Independent.