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Psychiatrists warn Pakistan over execution of schizophrenic
An international group of psychiatrists called on Pakistan Friday not to execute a prisoner suffering from schizophrenia, days before his temporary stay of execution is set to expire.
Lawyers and rights groups say convicted murderer Khizar Hayat, 55, cannot be executed as he cannot understand his crime and punishment.
The World Psychiatric Association said it was "extremely concerned" by the plans to execute Hayat, warning his death would be "an irreversible miscarriage of justice".
"After eight years of treatment with powerful anti-psychotic medications, his symptoms remain as serious as ever, leading to a diagnosis that his schizophrenia is treatment resistant," said the statement by the association.