ISLAMABAD: Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif has endorsed the death sentence of another five persons convicted of terrorism-related charges by the military courts.
“The COAS has confirmed death sentences of another five hardcore terrorists,” the ISPR said in a statement on Wednesday.
Another accused belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan was awarded life imprisonment.
This was the third batch of terrorism convicts whose death penalty has been ratified by the army chief. So far 18 people have been sentenced to death by the military courts established earlier this year to try hardened criminals.
Those sentenced earlier were all from the TTP, except for one Jaish-i-Muhammad activist.
This is the first time that two Lashkar-i-Jhangvi men have been convicted of attacks on the Shia community, along with two from the TTP and one associated with a Khyber-based terrorist group, Lashkar-i-Islam.
The military statement did not disclose when the sentencing was done. There are currently nine military courts in the country. The army chief recently agreed to increase the number of tribunals in Karachi.
The ISPR said that those convicted were involved in sectarian attacks in Quetta, killing of police officials in Karachi, attack on a polio team in Khyber Agency, the Bannu jailbreak and assassination of a lawyer in Lahore.
Through the statement the military tried to dispel a notion that the military courts were only trying those involved in attacks on military personnel and installations and that other cases of terrorism were also being pursued.
In a split but majority decision, the Supreme Court had last month dismissed the legal challenge to the establishment of military courts through the 21st Amendment. The verdict, however, reaffirmed the right of convicts to seek a judicial review of military courts’ decisions.
The ISPR also released a résumé of the convicts and the cases in which they were found guilty.
Convict Mohammad Sabir Shah alias Ikramullah, son of Sher Hazrat, was an active member of a banned organisation. He was found involved in abetting the murder of Advocate Syed Arshad Ali in Lahore. He admitted his offence before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on solitary charge and awarded death sentence.
Hafiz Mohammad Usman alias Abbas alias Asad, son of Ali Dost, was an active member of an outlawed organisation. He was found involved in sectarian killings in Quetta and attacks on police. He was convicted of killing and abetment in killing of Hassan Ali Yousafi, Advocate Waliat Hussain and other civilians. He also abetted in the killing of two industrialists, Syed Talib Agha and Syed Jawad Agha, belonging to a particular sect. He was also convicted of attacking and killing four police personnel, including DSP Hassan Ali and constables Nasrullah, Sifatullah and Mohammad Taqi. He admitted his offence before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 11 charges and awarded death sentence.
Asad Ali alias Bhai Jan was an active member of the TTP. He was found involved in possessing firearms/explosives and attacking officials of the Sindh police in Quaidabad area, Karachi, which resulted in the death of three individuals, including DSP Kamal Mangon and ASI Akbar Hussain. He admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on five charges and awarded death sentence.
Tahir, son of Mir Shah Jahan, was an active member of the TTP. He was involved in attacking/breaking Bannu jail during which a number of terrorists managed to escape. He was also found involved in attacks on law-enforcement agencies which resulted in the death of one soldier and injuries to another. He admitted his offence before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on three charges and awarded death sentence.
Fateh Khan, son of Mukaram Khan, was an active member of a banned organisation. He was found involved in slaughtering a civilian, attacking a polio workers’ team, individuals of law-enforcement agency and armed force personnel, which resulted in the death of a child, 11 Khasadars, two army officers and 22 soldiers and injuries to one civilian, nine Khasadars and 25 soldiers. He admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on eight charges and awarded death sentence.
Qari Ameen Shah alias Ameen, son of Minar Shah, was an active member of the TTP. He was found involved in attacking a girls primary school in Khyber Agency, providing funds for terrorists activities, exploding an improvised explosive device and possessing explosives. He admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on four charges and awarded the sentence of imprisonment for life.
Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2015
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