Army chief signs death warrants of six terrorists

E-Paper | May 08, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has signed the death warrant of six hardcore terrorists, pending execution, by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM), DawnNews reported.

The six terrorists were convicted by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) in accordance with the law. Sources said that the men are expected to be executed within the next 48 hours.

DG ISPR Asim Bajwa announced the decision on Twitter.

The announcement comes one day, after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had approved the removal of moratorium on the death penalty after Tuesday’s terrorist attack in Peshawar.

The army chief described the Peshawar school attack as a “ghastly act of cowardice” and said the perpetrators of the attack were “not only enemies of Pakistan but enemies of humanity”.

“They have hit at the heart of the nation, but let me reiterate they can’t in any way diminish the will of this great nation...our resolve to fight terror has taken new height,” the COAS had said.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Sammy

Dec 18, 2014 10:15pm

Thank you for your brave step we owe it to them poor children.

Recommend 0

Rayyan

Dec 18, 2014 10:17pm

Thats how real man act..

Recommend 0

hammad amjad

Dec 18, 2014 10:18pm

that's the way to go

Recommend 0

Ehtisham Hussain

Dec 18, 2014 10:19pm

We need speedy justice system so that these criminals will be brought to justice.

Recommend 0

Goga

Dec 18, 2014 10:20pm

Please please, announcement should come after the excution... not before. Don't let them plan please...

Recommend 0

Imad Qureshi

Dec 18, 2014 10:20pm

Let's start the executions. shall we?

Recommend 0

Whiskey Khan

Dec 18, 2014 10:27pm

General Raheel " You are Man of the Hour" You did what you needed to do.

Recommend 0

Arslan

Dec 18, 2014 10:28pm

The general does his talking by actions. Is anybody else in the government taking notes?

Recommend 0

Patrick

Dec 18, 2014 10:29pm

A good decision for the time being, but not a permanent solution. These executions are the dire need of the hour. So-called socialists and leftists would argue otherwise though.

Recommend 0

Mohammad

Dec 18, 2014 10:32pm

Thank You

Recommend 0

Naxalite

Dec 18, 2014 10:33pm

Anxiously waiting for the first execution...

Recommend 0

syed abbas

Dec 18, 2014 10:37pm

good ....let the nature take its course

Recommend 0

Waqar

Dec 18, 2014 10:39pm

Thank you... In the presence of a shady government, all eyes are on you General...

Recommend 0

Pakistani

Dec 18, 2014 10:40pm

Right decision by a Brave man.

Recommend 0

Virkaul

Dec 18, 2014 10:41pm

no names, no list? Is Mumtaz Qadri who is convicted of murder included in the list?

Recommend 0

Sunil

Dec 18, 2014 10:43pm

Took a long time, after this carnage?

Recommend 0

salman

Dec 18, 2014 10:44pm

Now is the time to wipe out this menace from the face of earth

Recommend 0

Concerned

Dec 18, 2014 10:48pm

Correct me, isn't the head of the state sign these orders?

Recommend 0

Muni

Dec 18, 2014 10:50pm

A commendable move!

Recommend 0

Imran

Dec 18, 2014 10:55pm

Schools in India are denouncing terror attack in Pakistan. You can Google on "Students burn effigy of terrorism"

Recommend 0

amit

Dec 18, 2014 10:56pm

My God, even Death Warrant from Army? Why not from Courts? isnt it interference of Army in the Civil Institutions? Death Warrant is welcome but cutting short the civil institution is definitely a dangerous trend...

Recommend 0

ehsan

Dec 18, 2014 10:56pm

Way to go. Hang them.

Recommend 0

Rev. Eldrick Lal

Dec 18, 2014 10:58pm

Good Job, Commander! But don't you think it should have been done long time ago.

Recommend 0

Shahid

Dec 18, 2014 10:59pm

Gen. You are the hero. The nation stands United to fully support your actions. God bless Pakistan

Recommend 0

Shahpur

Dec 18, 2014 11:09pm

Army is the only hope for Pakistan. Present rulers and their Corrupt and Dishonest partners should also be brought to justice by army. No mercy for anyone.

Recommend 0

Samad Chaudhry

Dec 18, 2014 11:09pm

Thanks General We needed an ironman like you. May Allah give you courage and strength to execute and save Pakistan.

Recommend 0

samina

Dec 18, 2014 11:09pm

The hardcore terrorists are walking freely COAS, put them behind the bars and wipe them out. Killing handful of locked terrorists when hundreds of thousands more are being produced and supplied through madrassas, is not going to take us anywhere. Please for the sake of those innocent souls, take concrete action and fix it once and forever. The whole nation is behind you.

Recommend 0

Scott

Dec 18, 2014 11:14pm

@amit it's a court martial situation. Pay attraction to the news first pls.

Recommend 0

Staying Strong

Dec 18, 2014 11:17pm

They were convicted by military court so army chief would need to sign it not a civil judge?

Recommend 0

Ammad

Dec 18, 2014 11:19pm

It's time to put them where they belong.

Recommend 0

Naz

Dec 18, 2014 11:23pm

only 6 ?

Recommend 0

hindol

Dec 18, 2014 11:28pm

it`ll make no progress until or unless pakistan realizes the danger and changes her policy

Recommend 0

Ahsan

Dec 18, 2014 11:33pm

Why are they being tried in a military court?

Recommend 0

jami

Dec 18, 2014 11:34pm

hang them all

Recommend 0

Farhan

Dec 18, 2014 11:36pm

Big applaud for you COAS. Well done. Entire nation has been looking forward eagerly towards it. Please continue to penalize all such element and their abettors with death sentence.

Recommend 0

Asad

Dec 18, 2014 11:39pm

I salute you for that General.

Recommend 0

Shah Nawaz

Dec 18, 2014 11:39pm

Will the killer of Governer Taseer be hanged? Had you punished that guy earlier we, probably would have prevented this attack. We need to stop fearing extremists and start confronting them. Eliminating religious and regional fanaticism is also a responsibility of general public, not only Police and Military

Recommend 0

Imran

Dec 18, 2014 11:43pm

If these animals were hanged as soon as they were convicted, how many Pakistanis (of all religious backgrounds) would be alive today?

Recommend 0

Noman

Dec 18, 2014 11:47pm

Bravo! Keep it up chief sb! Also sign on the remaining terrorists warants they all only understand the language of capital punishment.

Recommend 0

ankur

Dec 18, 2014 11:49pm

how will you kill a already dead person ? they are are fidyain means they have decided to embrace death before going to mission ,

Recommend 0

Mehwish

Dec 18, 2014 11:49pm

Execute them within 12 Hours no delay at all.

Recommend 0

wasim

Dec 18, 2014 11:53pm

@amit, please dont give comments once you dont know the details. These six warrants are for those criminals who are tried under FGCM (Field General Court Martial) as these men are Army personnel or crime commited is military related. Civialian authorities have nothing to do with it except executing the orders in jail. I hope you understood now. "Lesson is that never comment once you dont know the details".

Recommend 0

Shujaat Khan

Dec 18, 2014 11:54pm

THANK YOU Raheel.

Recommend 0

amer

Dec 18, 2014 11:55pm

I salute you Sir, we are ready and willing and waiting for the call to defend this great nation alongside our brave army

Recommend 0

AHMAD GERMAN

Dec 18, 2014 11:59pm

Way to go Chief. Let's get rid of these punk once it for all. We are all behind you.

Recommend 0

Khan

Dec 18, 2014 11:59pm

48 hours is toor far, they all must have been executed by now 'publically'.

Recommend 0

G Qureshi

Dec 19, 2014 12:05am

@Rev. Eldrick Lal : you are correct Rev. But thanks to the EU for twisting weak Pakistani Governments hands to ban the executions in lieu of the financial benefits from EU markets. What a shame for us to reenact the Law after loosing so many innocent children.

Recommend 0

Awais

Dec 19, 2014 12:14am

@amit read again, the punishment has been awarded after court marshall hence death warrant signed by the chief

Recommend 0

omer khan shaheen

Dec 19, 2014 12:22am

General Raheel, Sir!, We all are with you. You will not be short of men, Insha'Allah, no Pakistani will shy away from joining the ranks, but Sir! we must not spare those responsible!

Recommend 0

Sajjad Khan

Dec 19, 2014 12:27am

Well done general, at last a man of courage defying coward terrorists taking a brave first step towards eradication of terrorism and path to progress and modernization of a nuclear armed nation. In fact, this step should have been taken immediately after the murder of general Alvi.

Recommend 0

Mohammad Ahmad Khan

Dec 19, 2014 12:27am

Bravo. Had it been done 20 years ago, these monsters would not have dared to commit this kind of horrific act. Start executing them. End of story.

Recommend 0

Iftikhar Khan

Dec 19, 2014 12:33am

May Allah be with you in your deeds.

Recommend 0

Sipahi

Dec 19, 2014 12:37am

@Concerned These people were convicted under military courts so the army chief had to sign these orders.

Recommend 0

Truth will Always Prevail

Dec 19, 2014 12:40am

No Mercy should be shown to these coward they should be hunted down and killed such a way that never ever again any one should even think about killing nation kids

Recommend 0

Dilawar Khan

Dec 19, 2014 12:40am

the nation admires him for all the steps taken in last 48 hours

Recommend 0

Ripper

Dec 19, 2014 12:45am

@Imran We dont need their support. They have already done enough. It time for them to mind their own business and let us do what needs to be done.

Recommend 0

Fazal

Dec 19, 2014 12:49am

Hang all terroists, hang them quickly. And hang the rest of the terrorists who are in jails, no more death row prisoners! Hang 'em all!

Recommend 0

M. Siddique

Dec 19, 2014 12:54am

@Concerned, First my thought was the same. But these convicted by general court marshal as these criminals killed army personnel.

Recommend 0

Masood Khan

Dec 19, 2014 12:54am

Too little too late. This should have been done long time ago.

Recommend 0

omar

Dec 19, 2014 12:56am

general next time please just kill them on the spot no need to bring hem to the jail as jail is meant for humans not for animals

Recommend 0

Amer

Dec 19, 2014 12:57am

Those cases were tried in the military court. Therefore, those cases were not in civil domain.

Recommend 0

atif khan

Dec 19, 2014 01:09am

no hanging, they should be executed the islamic way with swords made in sialkot

Recommend 0

Mohammad Amin

Dec 19, 2014 01:14am

All these terrorists should be stoned to death

Recommend 0

Laeeq, NY

Dec 19, 2014 01:16am

Way to move forward. It is never late to defeat these monsters. Terrorists should know that if they are apprehended, they will be hanged. Hanging should be in the public so Pakistanis can regain their confidence in their government and army.

Recommend 0

Laeeq, NY

Dec 19, 2014 01:20am

There should be no civil courts for the terrorist. these case should be tried only in military courts. Justice should be fast and swift so terrorist should not waste the money for boarding and lodging them for years of trials and appeals.

Recommend 0

salman chippa

Dec 19, 2014 01:23am

I wouldn't believe until I see the bodies, hang them in public and why only 6 out 6000? Should hang at least 142 now then rest later.

Recommend 0

Pakistani

Dec 19, 2014 01:26am

Those were not convicted in Civil courts. All had been convicted by Field General Court Martial. Meaning Military courts. That's way he sign the orders.

Recommend 0

Disguste

Dec 19, 2014 01:33am

This is meaningless. Executing these few will not resolve the issue. They are suicide bombers they already come plan to be dead. What will executions do to them.

Recommend 0

Ayesha

Dec 19, 2014 01:39am

Mr Raheel you should have thought about all this much earlier ---

Recommend 0

Shoaib Usman

Dec 19, 2014 01:44am

Please punish them in public to stop other

Recommend 0

shafiq

Dec 19, 2014 01:50am

@Concerned , Our Head of the state is totally incompetent. All eyes on COAS & Imran Khan.

Recommend 0

Toordada

Dec 19, 2014 01:53am

Now , please do not be fooled by some Taliban who are denouncing the Peshawar attack. They all are the same. and how about the killer of governor Taseer. Please hang him too.

Recommend 0

Malik

Dec 19, 2014 01:55am

The ban on death penalty was the legacy of Zardari government which NS opted for no personal or private reasons--not out of some jurisprudential or humanitarian reasons. It was sheer stupidity not to complete the ends of justice. These people are ghastly murderers and should be completely wiped out including the murderer of Governor Taaseer. Khua kum jehan pak.

Recommend 0

Salman

Dec 19, 2014 01:58am

@Concerned Yes he does..but a FGCM means the men were serving in Armed forces and had links to terrorists..or may be involved direclty..or were captured. This. can only be apprved by the Chief of Staff. Not the prime minister, because a prime minister has next to no say in these matters. Yes Army chief can not act unless the moratorium is lifted by the PM.

Recommend 0

Zak

Dec 19, 2014 01:58am

@Concerned Anti-terrorism courts come under military jurisdiction, tried in general field courts. That's why the cases were dispensed of quickly with evidence, no bribes work here as in civil courts.

Recommend 0

Tariq Gulzar

Dec 19, 2014 02:02am

The blood of these innocent childrens will haunt us for the rest of our lives if we don't take the decision to exterminate these monsters and their fake ideology.

Recommend 0

anony

Dec 19, 2014 02:18am

Well done General. We are all with you.

Recommend 0

Shahid

Dec 19, 2014 02:20am

NK and Meimoon - follow the precedence already set by our brave Commander and act now. Issue death warrants for all the killers IMMEDIATELY! No more moratorium for the evil creatures - we want swift elimination to cleanse our sacred motherland. Zero tolerance and no soft corners for these blood suckers. You MUST bear in mind the reading of the wall "supporters, sympathizers...shall be treated as the terrorists".

Recommend 0

Asif

Dec 19, 2014 02:20am

My Proposal to Government Of Pakistan Its time for 'School Marshal' for every school by Law 1) For 1- 50 students minimum 2 School marshal, For 100 students 4 Marshall's and for 1000 Students 20 School Marshals. 2) These school Marshal are Federal Employee (Means gone through strict screening). 3) They should be at certain young age (Not the kind we see outside Banks, old with long beards). 4) These Marshall s should not be visible to General Public, means no sitting ducks. 5) These Marshall s should be equipped with proper training and equipment. Their equipment should consist of heavy gear not the standard guns or machine guns. Lets make this into Law Now!

Recommend 0

azmi

Dec 19, 2014 02:22am

Terrorists they are human too they also have human rights, their rights should also be safeguarded like right to life..

Recommend 0

ali

Dec 19, 2014 02:30am

Line um up

Recommend 0

Naveed

Dec 19, 2014 02:46am

The grief, the hurt, the pain is beyond words. I really have no words to describe my anguish and the the thought that the Talibans may repeat this act. May God give them the wisdom, the foresight, the patience to see the futility of their effort. Mulla Fazalullah, the main perpetrator of this mayhem has been for decades protected by USA and the Afghan Government. Why the world is not asking Mr. Obama this question?

Recommend 0

raja hindustani

Dec 19, 2014 02:55am

Welcome development. I hope pak govt will show guts and execute them ASAP.

Recommend 0

javaid

Dec 19, 2014 02:56am

They should be executed publically!

Recommend 0

tauseef

Dec 19, 2014 02:57am

Proud of you General Raheel Shareef as there is someone left in this nation who can dare the terrorists.

Recommend 0

Zawar Khan

Dec 19, 2014 03:18am

Why only 6 terrorists? Hang every supporter, supplier, benifisherer, aider and abater along with their terrorists. Clean up Pakistan of these devils and evildoers and save Pakistani lives.

Recommend 0

Ezio Auditore

Dec 19, 2014 03:26am

Good job.. And moment of silence for secular "human right activists" and EU who long have been indirectly protecting these terrorists by campaigning against capital punishment...

Recommend 0

Dystopia

Dec 19, 2014 04:15am

@Patrick Actually the leftists were the ones who pushed for attacks against the Taliban while the right was busy having "peace" talks with them. Love Imran Khan but he has cost us too many lives.

Recommend 0

Omar

Dec 19, 2014 04:23am

A man of action. Carry on soldier.

Recommend 0

Faisal

Dec 19, 2014 04:25am

Thank you ..

Recommend 0

adam memon

Dec 19, 2014 04:30am

These terrorist should hanged in fronts of parents of student of school and their dead bodies should behanged for three days.

Recommend 0

Mustafa

Dec 19, 2014 04:36am

I offer my services to hang them or shoot them.

Recommend 0

freeTalker

Dec 19, 2014 04:47am

@Concerned those ppl are court martial and belongs to military not civilian.

Recommend 0

kirther

Dec 19, 2014 04:53am

Great this should have been done long time back because in a true democratic set-up accountability is very important, but political leadership in Pakistan does not really have any understanding of a true democratic system, they just use it as a political slogan. The whole nation must thank General Raheel Sharif for initiating this move and for thrusting a policy change otherwise PML-N government would not have taken any such action on its own.

Recommend 0

Insafseeker

Dec 19, 2014 05:08am

@amit its a court martial of servicemen, not civilians. .court martial is the jurisdiction of military courts.

Recommend 0

HAIDER

Dec 19, 2014 05:11am

He is a MAN...

Recommend 0

Muhammad Farooq, ON, Canada

Dec 19, 2014 05:17am

thorough a special executive orders all terrorists on death rows should be sent to the site of the tragedy in Peshawar and hanged to death. This is the minimum we can do to show our resolve to these cowards.

Recommend 0

Dovid

Dec 19, 2014 05:36am

General Raheel Sharif zindabad !!!

Recommend 0

Ben

Dec 19, 2014 05:39am

@Concerned This is a military court that has passed judgment. It is court martial and the Army Chief is the one that signs the warrant of execution.

Recommend 0

Hassan Rashid

Dec 19, 2014 05:45am

I salute you for that Gen. Sharif. You've got your country and Pakistanis all over the world behind you. Exterminate those SOBs from the face of the earth.

Recommend 0

Thoughtful

Dec 19, 2014 05:53am

Finally a decisive and strong man emerges in Pakistan. A lesson to coward Pakistani politicians. Please continue with this practice. Any time a terrorists is arrested he should be tried immediately and hanged for his crimes against Pakistan and humanity.

Recommend 0

shakil

Dec 19, 2014 05:54am

Taliban's days are numbered Insha Allah.

Recommend 0

Raja

Dec 19, 2014 05:58am

I wish God gives me the power to terminate all the terrorists.

Recommend 0

Krishnan

Dec 19, 2014 06:09am

Can't believe , this is happening in Pak.

Recommend 0

AKBaloch

Dec 19, 2014 06:10am

@amit - They attacked army headquarter,they were tried by army tribunal, which does not require court approval, decision can't be appealed. The leader was an airforce medic.

Recommend 0

zaher

Dec 19, 2014 06:24am

We Salute General Sahab If General Raheel would be head of Pakistan Army before Kayani than situation of Pakistan would have Different

Recommend 0

aziz

Dec 19, 2014 06:25am

@Goga 5 terorist is just an eye wash realistically be more lie 500-1000 at least

Recommend 0

Awaam

Dec 19, 2014 06:32am

@amit . I know for sure, your military follows the similar law.

Recommend 0

mir muhammad

Dec 19, 2014 06:37am

These felonies need to be dealt in with this manner. Killing children is in fact killing of a future generation. The action taken by COAS has given a hope to the nation that there is someone who feel the pain of Pakistani nation.

Recommend 0

Jawad

Dec 19, 2014 07:03am

@azmi Are you serious ? Or are you one of them trying to get ATLEAST some sympathies? Do you have the courage to say this in public??

Recommend 0

Jawad

Dec 19, 2014 07:05am

@samina You have to start from somewhere. And this is a good start.

Recommend 0

Gfellow

Dec 19, 2014 07:09am

Surprised. Should this order not be coming from the courts. What has military to with justice.

Recommend 0

M.Mohsin

Dec 19, 2014 07:09am

President or PM should have this power to sign not the Army chief.

Recommend 0

Haider

Dec 19, 2014 07:11am

stop playing games with the poor nation. What about Mumtaz Qadri?? Hafiz Saeed is roaming among us and doing jalsas in the hear of Lahore. Nawas Sharif is a sponsor of terrorists himself and Pak Army has a long way to go before they can prove they doctrine has now changed. Start with Qadri and then the Lal masjid thugs, then we will see.

Recommend 0

Desi

Dec 19, 2014 07:14am

By granting bail to Mumbai Attack terrorists and allowing Hafeez Saeed to roam freely, Pakistan is again nurturing "Good Terrorists". Can you believe Lashkar-e- Taiba commander & Mumbai Attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi even fathered a child while in Pakistani jail. Ridiculous.

Recommend 0

Zedex

Dec 19, 2014 07:16am

This should have been done long ago. Hope the resolve to tackle these beasts remains forever and endures thru the test of time (and politics !)

Recommend 0

Kumar Rohtak from Faizabad,India.

Dec 19, 2014 07:17am

@amit ,didn't you hear, they were court martialed by military court.

Recommend 0

Zahid

Dec 19, 2014 07:20am

Well...children are children. ..whether they are in madrsa, civilian school, lall masjid or army school. We all should have same pain for all kids. Lake of policies brought us to this disgrace and loss.

Recommend 0

taimur

Dec 19, 2014 07:43am

@amit .. these were court martialled, boy. Army chief is to do that. They can appeal to the president.

Recommend 0

Ayesha Farooq

Dec 19, 2014 07:44am

India and Afghanistan must stand with Pakistan eliminating terrorists from Pakistan, Afghan and Indian soil. Enough is enough. We can't let any more terrorist attacks on innocent civilians, at any cost. My Pakistan can't do it alone because terrorists can easily escape to neighboring countries. This will require a sincere effort and high determination. Making few airstrikes or chasing few terrorists for weeks will not eliminate the terrorism. Pakistan has earned bad names because of soft approach on terrorism control. Any political differences should be resolved through talks. No more terrorist activities in Pakistan soil.

Recommend 0

Boss man

Dec 19, 2014 07:44am

These cosmetics won't help. I can assure you it will take 20 years to eliminate terrorism from pakistan provided everyone is sincere.

Recommend 0

Agha Asad Raza

Dec 19, 2014 07:45am

Very good decision!! Bravo!

Recommend 0

A concerned citizen of Pakistan

Dec 19, 2014 07:50am

This is it! This is what we need. No ifs and buts. I hope some of those to be executed are among those involved in sectarian killings.

Recommend 0

Shiblee

Dec 19, 2014 07:51am

@Concerned They were court martial and in Pakistan civilian judicial system can not interfare.

Recommend 0

Muhammad

Dec 19, 2014 07:52am

thank you

Recommend 0

aftab siddiqi

Dec 19, 2014 07:12pm

all nation salute general raheel sharif for timely, brave decision, GOD BLESS HIM

Recommend 0

Maryam

Dec 19, 2014 08:49pm

General Saab, please do us all a favor. Sign one letter of death sentence to all the terrorists that have been kept in great condition in Pakistani jails, fed on our money. What are we feeding them for? Under Islamic law we should hang all of them. What are we waiting for? How many more innocents do they need to kill for us to WAKE UP?!

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Climate uncertainty reshapes life in Pakistan as tree planting efforts shift towards survival

“The real work begins after the applause fades, in the quiet, daily acts of care that no camera records.”

Indus Cloud Limited, Indus DC REIT and UBL form strategic partnership to accelerate Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and cloud adoption

This collaboration marks a significant step toward strengthening the country’s digital backbone and locally hosted cloud services for enterprises and public sector organisations.