Pakistan hangs 'teen' killer amid outcry

Pakistan yesterday hanged a man allegedly tortured into confessing to murder as a minor, and rejected an appeal from another also said to have been under-age, in the latest death row cases to draw international condemnation.

Aftab Bahadur Masih went to the gallows in the eastern city of Lahore after more than two decades on death row, prison officials said, despite pleas for mercy from lawyers and church leaders who said he was only 15 when convicted.

Hours later the Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Shafqat Hussain, convicted of killing a young boy in 2004 -- when his lawyers and family say he was under 18 and therefore not eligible for execution.

Pakistan's resumption of executions in December after a six-year moratorium has prompted grave concern from rights groups, the United Nations and the European Union.

Critics say the country's criminal justice system is marred by police torture and poor legal representation, meaning many of those now facing the gallows have not had a fair trial.

Hussain's case has attracted particular attention from international human rights campaigners. On Tuesday he was granted his fourth stay of execution in five months.

But the SC yesterday rejected an application by Hussain's lawyers to set up a judicial commission to determine his age.

"Sorry, the petition is dismissed. This matter has to come to an end someday," said Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk, the head of a three-judge panel.