ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain turned down on Friday clemency appeals of six prisoners on death row, who are likely to be executed over the next couple of days, sources in the Presidency told Dawn. All six prisoners are from Sindh.

Sources say the president’s decision has been conveyed to the Sindh Home Department, which has directed the inspector general for prisons to carry out the executions.

Also read: President rejects mercy appeal of 17 death penalty convicts

The prisoners whose appeals have been turned down include Achar alias Bhai Khan, Abdul Aziz, Bashir Ahmed, Mohammad Faisal, Mohammad Afzal and Munawwar Ali. All six are said to have been convicted in various terrorism cases.

The president has already rejected 17 mercy pleas from criminals awarded the death penalty since last December.

The decision regarding the rejection of six men’s appeals was not officially made public. Sources said it had been decided at the top level that such decisions would not be announced officially due to security concerns.

“The summary regarding the appeals of six convicts was initiated by the interior ministry and received by the Presidency through the Prime Minister Office.

After the president’s decision, the summary was sent back through same channels for execution,” the source said.

President Mamnoon, he said, would back all executive orders aimed at eliminating terrorists and had decided that no mercy appeal by any convicted terrorist would be accepted.

On Dec 17, 2014, President Mamnoon approved the abolition of a moratorium on the death penalty after the attack on Peshawar’s Army Public School, which claimed the lives of 148 people, including 135 schoolchildren.

In the wake of the move, several executions have already been carried out in different parts of the country.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2015

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