COAS approves death sentences of 15 terrorists

–ISPR says military courts have sentenced 310 terrorists in 717 cases till now

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Sunday approved the death sentences of 15 hardcore terrorists who were involved in heinous offences, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

According to details, the 15 terrorists were involved in attacks that resulted in the deaths of 34 individuals, including 21 army personnel, nine FC troops, two policemen and two civilians. In addition to the death sentences, 20 others were also handed down prison sentences.

Hameedur Rehman S/O Moazmin Mullah. The convict was a member of a proscribed organisation. He was involved in attacking law enforcement agencies and armed forces of the country, which resulted in the death of Major General Sanaullah Khan, Lieutenant Colonel Tauseef Ahmed, Naib Subedar Muhammad Aslam and 18 soldiers. The convict confessed to his offences before the judicial magistrate and during his statement at the trial. He was awarded the death sentence.

Said Ali S/O Munawar Khan. The convict was a member of a proscribed organisation. He was involved in attacking armed forces and law enforcement agencies of the country, which resulted in the death of civilian Shah Nazar, Naib Subedar Muhammad Hanif, Havildar Muhammad Naseer, Havildar Muhammad Qayyum Ahmad along with two soldiers and injuries to eight other soldiers. He was also found in possession of explosives. The convict confessed to his offences before the judicial magistrate and during his statement at the trial. He was awarded the death sentence.

Ibrar S/O Abdul Rahim. The convict was a member of a proscribed organisation. He abetted suicidal bombers in attacking Christian Colony near Peshawar by planning the said attack and providing weapons/suicidal jackets/transportation to suicide bombers. Resultantly, an innocent civilian, Samuel Sardar, lost his life and three other civilians were injured. The convict was also found in possession of explosives. The convict confessed to his offences before the judicial magistrate and during his statement at the trial. He was awarded death the sentence.

Fida Hussain S/O Muhammad Hussain, Raza Ullah S/O Ikram Ullah, Rahim Ullah S/O Fateh Khan, Umar Zada S/O Bashar, Amjad Ali S/O Muhammad Ajan, Abdur Rahman S/O Abdul Wahab, Ghulam Rahim S/O Munjra Khan, Muhammad Khan S/O Ghulam Haider and Rahim Ullah S/O Noorani Gul, Rashid Iqbal S/O Hameed Iqbal, Muhammad Ghafar S/O Qari Muhammad Zarif and Rehman Ali S/O Muhammad Aziz  were members of a proscribed organisation. They were involved in attacking law enforcement agencies of the country, which resulted in the death of Assistant Sub Inspector Noor Zaman, Naib Subedar Hussain Faraz along with four other soldiers and injuries to five others. The convicts were also involved in the destruction of government educational institutions in Swat. They were found in possession of firearms and explosives as well. These convicts confessed to their offences before the judicial magistrate and also while making a statement at their respective trials. They were all awarded the death sentence.

Since the establishment of military courts, 310 terrorists have been given death sentences from the 717 terrorism cases sent to courts by the federal government, according to details released by ISPR. 546 of the 717 cases have been finalised by the military courts with 234 handed imprisonment sentences and 310 given the death penalty. 56 of the 310 terrorists sentenced to death have been executed to death following a failure of their appeals in superior civil courts and rejection by the president and COAS of their mercy petitions. In addition, two of the 717 accused were acquitted by the courts as well. Once the legal process of 254 remaining terrorists is completed in superior civil courts, their death sentences will also be finalised, according to ISPR.

Those who have been executed were involved in the following attacks:

• Marriot Islamabad terrorist attack, September 2008
• Parade Lane terrorist attack, December 2009
• Attack on Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) office Multan, December 2009
• Terrorist attack on four SSG Soldiers, including two officers, April 2009 (one terrorist executed)
• Attack on ISI office Sukkur, November 2010
• Bannu jailbreak, April 2012 (one terrorist executed)
• Mastung sectarian terrorist attack, April 2012
• Killing of foreigners in Nanga Parbat, June 2013
• Terrorist attack on civilian and security officials at Chalas, August 2013
• Terrorist attack on SSP Chaudhary Aslam, January 2014
• Karachi airport attack, June 2014
• Terrorists’ attack on Sabin Mehmood, April 2015
• Terrorists’ attack at Safora Goth Karachi, May 2015
• Bacha Khan University attack, January 2016
• Terrorist attack on Amjad Sabri, June 2016