ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Supreme Court rejected an appeal on Wednesday 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. Hussain case drew international condemnation.

Later on Wednesday, authorities hanged another man allegedly tortured into confessing to murder as a minor.

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.

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.