ISLAMABAD: The European Union mission in Islamabad condemned on Wednesday Pakistan`s decision to restart executions in the wake of the country`s bloodiest-ever terrorist attack.

The decision came amid public outrage over a Taliban massacre at the Army Public School in Peshawar which killed 150 people, including 134 children.

The EU mission said in a statement it stood by Pakistan in its grief but remained opposed to capital punishment in all circumstances.

`We believe that the death penalty is not an effective tool in the fight against terrorism,` it said.

`The EU Delegation regrets the decision of the Government of Pakistan to lift the moratorium on executions ... (and) we hope that the moratorium will be re-established at the earliest.