CRI听力:Pakistan Ends Death Penalty Moratorium After School Attack

Pakistan's Prime Minister has approved use of the death penalty for convicted terrorists.

Nawaz Sharif made the decision ahead of a meeting of top political leaders in the northwestern city of Peshawar where Taliban militants attacked an army school and killed 141 people including 132 children.

"Today we discuss the issue in this meeting. There are even cases where mercy petitions have been rejected, the implementation of them was halted for some reason, but now it is being started."

Pakistan imposed a moratorium on capital punishment in 2008 and officials said dozens of death penalties have been pending since then.

Earlier, the Taliban released photos of the fighters who reportedly caused the tragic terrorist attack in Peshawar's military-run school.

They claimed that the attack was revenge for a military offensive against their safe havens in the northwest of the country.

In the meantime, Funerals and special prayer services have been taking place in Peshawar to honor the attack's victims.

Schools in Peshawar have been shut down as the country observes three days of national mourning.

The attack at the Army Public School and College was the deadliest slaughter of innocents in the country and horrified a nation already weary of unending militant assaults.