ISLAMABAD: A military court has handed down death penalties to 12 terrorists, including one involved in Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan jailbreak incidents, and prison terms to another six.

The sentences were ratified by Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Bajwa on Friday.

“Chief of Army Staff confirmed death sentences awarded to 12 hard­core terrorists, who were involved in heinous offences related to terrorism, i.e. attacking armed forces/law enforcement agencies of Pakistan, destruction of educational institution, telephone exc­hange, etc, and killing of innocent civilians,” the ISPR announced in a statement.

The convicts were involved in the killing of 99 people, including seven civilians and 92 law enforcement personnel, it said.

Another 58 people were injured in the attacks carried out by the militants.

Army Chief Qamar Bajwa ratifies the punishment

Since their inception in 2015, military courts have sentenced 231 terrorists to death. Of these, 56 have been executed. Forty-three executions took place after the start of the Operation Raddul Fasaad.

The terrorist convicted of Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan jailbreaks has been identified as Ghani Rehman, son of Fazal Rehman.

The attacks were claimed by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. Two police officers and four prisoners were killed in the attacks.

The convict was also involved in attacks on military personnel which resulted in the martyrdom of Captain Fasih Babar Amin and three other soldiers.

Others sentenced to death have been identified as Abdul Ghazi, Ziaur Rehman, Javid Khan, Muhammad Zubair, Umar Nawaz, Sajid Khan, Haibat Khan, Ahmed Shah, Baz Muhammad, Momeen Khan and Suleman Bahadur.

Most of the terrorists were affiliated with the TTP and were found guilty of attacks on security forces, resulting in the martyrdom of several soldiers and policemen.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2018