Pakistan concerned about Morsi death penalty

Islamabad: Pakistan expressed "considerable concern" on Tuesday over an Egyptian court's recent death sentences for former president Mohammed Morsi and his supporters.

"The news of the death sentence awarded to former elected president of Egypt Mohamad Morsi and more than 100 others has been received in Pakistan with considerable concern," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Pakistan, therefore, underscores the fact, highlighted by many other countries, that the dispensation of justice must be based on the principles of equity and fairness," the statement said.

"This is all the more important when political prisoners, especially a former elected president, who was ousted from office, is brought before the court of law," said the statement.

Morsi was sentenced to death on Saturday over charges arising from a mass jailbreak in 2011, along with his Muslim Brotherhood supporters, making him the first Egyptian president who has ever faced a death verdict.

Morsi was ousted by the army in July 2013 amid mass protests against his one-year rule. He has since faced a number of charges, including inciting violence, conspiring with foreign powers and killing protesters.