As part of a crackdown on terrorism post the Peshawar school attack, Pakistan is set to hang 500 terror convicts in the coming weeks, a move that has been criticised by a human rights group.
Pakistan has already executed six terrorists in the past few days after anger rose against the administration's approach to terror groups such as the Taliban, which claimed responsibility for the school carnage that led to the death of 141 people, including 132 children and threatened more strikes.
Pakistan lifted the moratorium on death penalty in terror cases a day after the attack and claimed that several death-row terrorists will be hanged in the coming days.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said around 500 terror convicts will be hanged within two to three weeks, The Express Tribune reported.
"The interior ministry has cleared these prisoners for execution and their mercy petitions have already been rejected by the president," said Nisar.
However, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticised Pakistan's move.
"Pakistan's government has chosen to indulge in vengeful blood-lust instead of finding and prosecuting those responsible for the horrific Peshawar attack," said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director for the HRW.
""The government's death penalty spree is a craven politicized reaction to the Peshawar killings that will do nothing to bring the attackers to justice."
Pakistan could face severe repercussions of the executions, Nisar warned, citing intelligence reports.
"But we should not let our guard down if we want to avenge the victims of the Peshawar attack... we are in a state of war. We will win this war," he said.
