Pakistani executed for killing Iranian diplomat
A man convicted of killing an Iranian diplomat 10 years ago has been hanged in Pakistan.
Haq Nawaz was a member of one of Pakistan's most militant Sunni Muslim groups.
He was found guilty of killing Sadiq Ganj and was executed in Mianwali.
In the days leading up to the execution, police arrested about 1,000 members of Nawaz's group, Sipah-e-Sahaba or Guardians of the Friends of the Prophet, to prevent violent demonstrations.
However, in his hometown, there was bitter fighting between police and followers of the militant Sunni Muslim group.
There were unconfirmed reports that two activists were killed. Several other demonstrators were injured, said witnesses in the area.
The Guardians of the Friends of the Prophet had pleaded with the president of Pakistan to commute the death sentence.
Organisation leaders also asked the Iranian government to accept money in exchange for Nawaz's life. Iran refused, said a group leader, Zahid Mahmood Qasmi.
About 25 members of the organisation demonstrated outside the jail shouting slogans against Shiite Muslims, calling them unbelievers. Nawaz's group has been blamed for scores of killings of Shiite Muslims.
In the last two weeks, seven people, all of them Shiite Muslims, have been killed in shootings in Punjab province and in southern Sindh province.
