ISLAMABAD: Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif ratified on Thursday death sentences awarded to 12 more militants, including three from Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, by military courts.

“Today Chief of Army Staff confirmed death sentences awarded to another 12 hardcore terrorists, who were involved in committing heinous offences related to terrorism, including killing of civilians, attacking armed forces of Pakistan and law-enforcement agencies, destruction of schools and communication infrastructure,” military public affairs division ISPR said in a statement.

Apart from the three LeJ terrorists who were involved in sectarian attacks in Karachi, the remaining ones were affiliated with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and were found guilty of attacks against armed forces and state infrastructure.

One of the TTP terrorists, Muhammad Qayyum Bacha, convicted by the military courts, was involved in the slaying of Special Services Group Captains Najam Riaz and Junaid and two soldiers in Swat in 2009.

Apart from three LeJ militants who were involved in sectarian attacks in Karachi, the remaining ones were affiliated with the TTP

Before the latest set of convictions, 77 others had been sentenced to death by military courts, which were formed in 2015 through a special legislation for two years. Twenty-five others have been given life sentences.

Only eight of those awarded the death penalty have so far been executed. The eight had been convicted of their involvement in the Army Public School Peshawar attack. Most of the convictions have been announced this year. The higher judiciary has stayed some of the sentences.

With the latest verdicts the military courts have decided more than half of the over two hundred cases referred to them for trial. A hundred and fourteen cases have been decided so far by military courts.

A brief of the convicts as provided by ISPR is hereunder:

Muhammad Qayyum Bacha, s/o Mian Said Ghani: The convict was an active member of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in the slaughter of officers and soldiers. He also destroyed a Girls Primary School and a Basic Health Unit by planting explosives. He admitted to his offences before a magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on four charges and awarded death sentence.

Muhammad Asif, s/o Anwar Hussain (Convict Number 1), Shahadat Hussain, s/o Anwar Hussain (Convict Number 2), and Yasin, s/o Muhammad Yar Hussain (Convict Number 3): These three convicts were active members of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. They were involved in killing of civilians and attacking law-enforcement agencies which resulted in the death of civilians. They were also in possession of fire-arms and explosives. Convict number 1 and 2 were tried on five charges whereas convict number 3 was tried on two charges. All have been awarded death sentences.

Muhammad Tayyab, s/o Ameer Zada: The convict was an active member of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking armed forces of Pakistan which resulted in the death of soldiers and civilians. He admitted to his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on three charges and awarded death sentence.

Said Akbar, s/o Liber Khan: The convict was an active member of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking armed forces of Pakistan which resulted in injuries and deaths of soldiers. He was also in possession of explosives. He admitted to his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on two charges and awarded death sentence.

Muhammd Ayaz, s/o Muhammad Jan: The convict was an active member of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking armed forces of Pakistan which resulted in death of soldier. He was also in possession of explosives. The convict admitted to his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on two charges and awarded death sentence.

Barkat Ali, s/o Abdul Ghaffar: The convict was an active member of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in the killing of civilians and was also in possession of fire-arms and explosives. The convict admitted to his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on three charges and awarded death sentence.

Aziz ur Rehman, s/o Abdul Jalal: The convict was an active member of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking law-enforcement agencies which resulted in the death of a police constable. He was also involved in destruction of shops by planting improvised explosive devices and was also in possession of explosives. The convict admitted to his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on three charges and awarded death sentence.

Hussan Dar, s/o Muhammad Raheem: The convict was an active member of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in the killing of civilians and attacking law-enforcement agencies which resulted in the death of police constables. He was also in possession of explosives. The convict admitted to his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on three charges and awarded death sentence.

Ishaq, s/o Abdul Hai: The convict was an active member of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking armed forces of Pakistan and law-enforcement agencies which resulted in the death of a junior commissioned officer and injuries to a police constable. He was also in possession of explosives. The convict admitted to his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on two charges and awarded death sentence.

Behram Sher, s/o Khairan: The convict was an active member of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking armed forces of Pakistan as well as destruction of a Girls Primary School which resulted in injuries and death of soldiers. He was also in possession of explosives. The convict admitted to his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on three charges and awarded death sentence.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2016