The convicts’ appeals against the capital punishment were turned down by the Sindh High Court and later the Supreme Court of Pakistan. President Mamnoon Hussain also dismissed their mercy petitions. Black warrants for their execution were issued Jan 24. On Monday, an application of the condemned prisoners seeking suspension of their death warrants was also dismissed. The government lifted the moratorium on hanging Dec 17, 2014 in the wake of the Peshawar school carnage Dec 16 in which 141 people, mostly school children, were killed. (IANS)