ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khwaja Asif on Friday stated that special courts were being established for trials of cases relating to terrorism.

Speaking to DawnNews in an interview, Asif said carrying out of death penalty against terrorists would begin soon, adding that the government had consciously decided to lift the moratorium on capital punishment.

He further said that the process of establishing special courts for the purpose of trying terror suspects was already underway.

Asif added that there would be no discrimination in carrying out convictions of terrorists who have been sentenced to death and whose appeals have been rejected.

Also read: Zero tolerance for terror, Nawaz, Raheel decide

The defence minister’s remarks comes as the civilian and military leadership of the country has decided on zero tolerance for terror.

The latest developments come in the aftermath of the attack on Peshawar’s Army Public School in which over 140 people — mostly children — were killed.

Soon after the attack, the prime minister lifted the moratorium on capital punishment and managed to develop consensus among parliamentary parties on the way forward in fighting the scourge of terrorism in the country. Moreover, the army chief dashed to Kabul around the same time, securing assurances from Kabul and the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) for anti-terror cooperation.

More on this: Death for terrorism