Two "hardcore terrorists" tried by Military Courts were hanged in a high security prison in Sahiwal on Tuesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported.

The two convicts were awarded the capital punishment for offences related to terrorism, including the killing of civilians, attacking armed forces and law enforcement agencies, and assaults on polio vaccination teams and employees of an NGO.

The hanged militants were identified as Muhammad Shahid Omar, who was an active member of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Fazl-i-Haq, an active member of the TTP, who was also accused of kidnapping and amputating the hands of four police officials.

Military courts were disbanded on January 7, 2017, after a sunset clause included in the legal provisions under which the tribunals were established, expired.

However, on March 31 President Mamnoon Hussain gave his formal assent to the Pakistan Army Act 2017 and the 23rd Constitutional Amendment Bill ─ the two pieces of legislation aimed at granting legal cover to military courts ─ after they were cleared by the parliament and senate.

Till recently, the government and the opposition had struggled to reach a consensus on reviving the courts despite frequent discussions.

The primary concern of critics was the mystery surrounding military court trials: no one knows who the convicts are, what charges have been brought against them, or what the accused's defence is against the allegations levelled.

Proponents say said the courts had acted as an "effective deterrent" for those considering violent acts.