PAKISTAN: FIRST CONVICT HANGED AFTER THREE MONTHS

December 24, 2016: A 70-year-old death-row convict was hanged in Rawalpindi’ Adiala jail after a span of 20 years.
The execution comes after a pause of almost three months and implementation of death penalties have resumed in jails across the country, an Adiala Jail official said.
According to jail administration, the convict Khan Iqbal had fled from the jail during Taliban’s attack on Bannu jail. He later returned to Gojar Khan and started working as a cobbler.
However; he was identified by slain Shakeel’s relatives after which he was arrested again on October 21, 2015.
A case was registered against Khan Iqbal on August 1, 1996 over the murder of Muhammad Shakeel. Trial court had sentenced him to death.
He was then shifted to Bannu jail on September 16, 2011 but ran away during Taliban’s attack on the prison on April 15, 2015.
His mercy appeal was also rejected by the President on December 13, 2016 after which his death warrants were issued. (Sources: Dunya News, 25/12/2016; The Express Tribune, 25/12/2016)