RAWALPINDI: Three terrorists convicted of attacks on civilians as well as on security personnel were executed on Wednesday in a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa prison.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the terrorists were involved in firing on a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft, killing civilians, and attacking personnel of the armed forces as well as members of law enforcement agencies.

All the three convicts were tried by military courts. They admitted to the offences before the magistrates and were awarded death sentences.

The ISPR statement said that convict Sajid Khan, son of Ibrahim Khan, was a member of a banned organisation and was involved in firing on a PIA plane landing at Peshawar airport. The assault resulted in the death of a woman, Mrs Maqnoon, and injuries to two other passengers.

He was also involved in the killing of innocent people and attacking members of the law enforcement agencies, which resulted in the death of Pir Israr along with his eight family members, a man called Niaz Gul, assistant sub-inspector Sajid Khan and injuries to several civilians and police officials.

The convict was in possession of firearms and explosives. He admitted to his offences before a magistrate and the trial court and was awarded a death sentence.

The second convict, Behram Sher son of Khairan, was also a member of a banned organisation. He was involved in destroying a government school and attacking armed forces personnel, which resulted in the death of a soldier and injuries to two others.

He, too, possessed explosive material and confessed to his crimes before the magistrate and the trial court. He also was awarded a death sentence.

Like the two other convicts, Fazl-i-Ghaffar (son of Shehzada) was a member of a banned organisation.

He was involved in attacking armed forces personnel and was responsible for the death of four soldiers and injuries to another. He was also in possession of a suicide jacket.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2017