ISLAMABAD: Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif endorsed on Thursday death penalty awarded to 12 terrorists belonging to the banned Al Qaeda, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and Sipah-i-Sahaba by special military courts.

The convicts were involved in the Bannu jailbreak, sectarian killings and attacks on armed forces and security personnel and educational institutions.

“Today Chief of Army Staff confirmed death sentences awarded to another 12 hardcore terrorists, who were involved in committing heinous offences relating to terrorism… These convicts were tried by military courts,” military’s public affairs wing ISPR said in a statement.

The convicts were involved in sectarian killings and attacks on security personnel and educational institutions

This is the second batch of terrorists, whose sentences have been confirmed by the army chief this year.

Previously, 36 terrorists were sentenced to death and four others to life terms by military courts set up in 2015 for two years through a special legislation enacted in the aftermath of Peshawar’s Army Public School carnage.

The government has so far referred some 150 terrorism cases to military courts for trial and 55 of them were decided last year.

Following are details about the 12 convicts whose death sentences were endorsed on Thursday:

Mohammad Arbi, son of Hafiz Mohammad Sadiq, was an active member of the TTP. He was involved in abetting an attack on Bannu Jail, owing to which a large number of terrorists escaped from the jail. It also caused injuries to several police constables and soldiers. He was also involved in attacking a law-enforcement agency, causing death and injuries to soldiers. He admitted his offences before a magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on three charges and awarded death sentence.

Rafi Ullah, son of Mohammad Miskeen, was an active member of Sipah-i-Sahaba. He was involved in abetting the murder of Syed Waqar Haider and causing injury to Abdul Sattar Tahir in Lahore. He was tried on two charges and awarded death sentence.

Qari Asif Mehmood, son of Mohammad Anwar was an active member of Sipah-i-Sahaba. He was involved in abetting murder of Syed Waqar Haider and causing injury to Abdul Sattar Tahir in Lahore. He was in possession of firearms and explosives. He was tried on four charges and awarded the death penalty.

Shawaleh, son of Gul Khan, was an active member of the TTP. He was involved in attacking a law-enforcement agency, causing death and injuries to soldiers. He admitted his offences before a magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on three charges and awarded the death sentence.

Mohammad Zeeshan, son of Abdul Qayyum Khan, was an active member of Al Qaeda. He was involved in attacking the armed forces, resulting in death and injuries to soldiers. He admitted his offence before a magistrate and the trial court. He was awarded the death sentence.

Nasir Khan, son of Khan Afsar Khan, was an active member of Al Qaeda. He was involved in attacking the armed forces, resulting in death and injuries to soldiers. He admitted his offences before a magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on three charges and awarded the death penalty.

Shoukat Ali, son of Abdul Jabbar, was an active member of the TTP. He was involved in attacking a law-enforcement agency and the armed forces, resulting in death and injuries to soldiers. He admitted his offences before a magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on five charges and sentenced to death.

Imdad Ullah, son of Abdul Wajid, was an active member of the TTP. He was involved in destruction of an educational institution in Buner district and attacking a law-enforcement agency, causing death and injuries to soldiers. He admitted his offences before a magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on five charges and awarded the death penalty.

Mohammad Umar, son of Saida Jan, was an active member of the TTP. He was involved in destruction of an educational institution and attacking the armed forces, resulting in death and injuries to soldiers. He admitted his offences before a magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on five charges and awarded the death sentence.

Sabir Shah, son of Syed Ahmed Shah, was an active member of the TTP. He was involved in attacking the armed forces, causing death of soldiers. He admitted his offences before a magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on three charges and sentenced to death.

Khandan, son of Dost Mohammad Khan, was an active member of the TTP. He was involved in attacking the armed forces, resulting in death and injuries to soldiers. He admitted his offences before a magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on three charges and awarded the death penalty.

Anwar Ali, son of Fazal Ghani, was an active member of the TTP. He was involved in attacking the armed forces, causing death and injuries to soldiers. He admitted his offences before a magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on three charges and awarded the death sentence.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2016