The Stream

Executions to resume in Pakistan as fury follows school attack

Many demand government retribution in response to school massacre in Peshawar.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has lifted a suspension on the death penalty in “terrorism-related cases”, as Pakistanis mourn 141 people killed in an attack by the Taliban. President Mamnoon Hussain also rejected the mercy petitions of 8 individuals convicted of terrorism activities. 

Reinstating the death penalty is seen as part of the government’s response to the attack on an army school in Peshawar, which counted 132 children among the victims. The government is also stepping up military action against the Taliban in federally administered tribal areas.

The gunmen behind the Peshawar school attack were killed during the military’s rescue operation on Monday. Many inmates on death row, however, were convicted on charges related to terrorism. 

Pakistanis expressed support for retaliation against the Taliban using #WeWantPublicExecutionTomorrow and #CrushTTP, an acronym referring to the Pakistani Taliban