The execution of Zulfiqar Ali, a Pakistani national who was on death row in Indonesia, has been halted, on early Friday.

He was convicted of drug-related charges in a controversial trial.

However Indonesian authorities executed one local and three Nigerian drug convicts by firing squad, an official said. They were put to death shortly after midnight, Noor Rachmad, deputy attorney general for general crimes, told reporters.

He did not say why 10 other drug convicts, who had been expected to face the firing squad, were not executed.

Indonesian television networks say the government has carried out executions of people convicted of drug crimes.

Three networks said Friday the executions occurred out at the Nusa Kambangan prison island.

Indonesia's attorney-general had stated earlier this week that 14 people, mostly foreigners, would be executed.

Relatives, rights groups and foreign governments had urged Indonesia to spare the lives of the 14.

It is the third set of executions under President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo who was elected in 2014 and campaigned on promises to improve human rights in Indonesia.

Earlier, the family of Ali had carried out a protest in Lahore on Wednesday against his imminent execution.

Pakistan had been angered about the planned execution of Ali — whom rights groups claim was beaten into confessing — and summoned Indonesia's ambassador in Islamabad this week to convey their concerns.