PAKISTAN: SOLDIER MUHAMMED HUSSAIN IS EXECUTED FOR MURDER

November 15, 2012: A Pakistani soldier sentenced to death four years ago become the first man to be executed in the country for almost four years.
Muhammed Hussain was condemned in 2008 for murdering his senior officer.
He was hanged at a jail in Mianwali city, Punjab province, early in the morning. All his appeals for mercy were rejected.
Correspondents say the hanging ends what amounts to an unofficial moratorium on executions that has been observed since December 2008.
The dead body of the convict was handed over to his heirs.
He was tried in the military court in Okara Cantonment, which sentenced him to death on February 12, 2009.
Every three months the president's office has issued a letter which has put a stay on all capital punishment - a routine that has been in operation for the last few years.
Human rights activists say that the critical factor in Mr Hussain's case was the fact that he was convicted by a military court.
They believe that Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari may have been unwilling to stay the execution because this case involved the military.
The last execution before November 15 was that of another soldier, Shahid Abbas, for murder in December 2008.
It is thought that there are about 8,000 people currently on death row in Pakistan - rights groups say it has one of the largest numbers of prisoners on death row in the world.
Amnesty International says many death sentences are handed down after trials which appear to have been unfair, using evidence which would be inadmissible under international law.
Last year alone more than 300 prisoners were sentenced to death in Pakistan.
Media reports say that Mr Hussain's plea for clemency to President Asif Ali Zardari was rejected in December 2011.
Army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani also rejected his mercy pleas. (Sources: www.bbc.co.uk, arynews.tv, Ap, 15/11/2012)