Nine ‘hardcore terrorists’ set to hang in Pakistan

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan – The new year opened with the military announcing death sentences for nine “hardcore terrorists” tried by military courts.

An Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement released Friday said Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif confirmed the death sentences of the nine men who were sentenced for offenses relating to terrorism, including an attack on the Parade Lane mosque, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Headquarters (HQ) in Multan, attacks on law enforcement agencies (LEAs), and the kidnapping and murder of civilians in Lahore.

In 2015, 326 people were hanged after the moratorium on the death penalty was lifted following the Dec 2014 attack on Peshawar’s Army Public School.

ISPR provided the following details:

Muhammad Ghauri, son of Javed Iqbal

The convict was an active member of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and TTP media cell in-charge. He was involved in the attack on Parade Lane Mosque, Rawalpindi, in which 38 people were killed and 57 injured. He admitted his offenses before a magistrate and trial court. He was tried on four charges and awarded a death sentence.

Abdul Qayyum, son of Ameer Muhammad

The convict was an active member of Harkat-ul-Jehad-i-Islam, Punjab. He was involved in the attack on ISI Headquarters, Multan, in which seven people were killed and 72 injured. He admitted his offenses before a magistrate and a trial court. He was tried on seven charges and awarded a death sentence.

Muhammad Imran, son of Abdul Manan

The convict was an active member of TTP. He was involved in terrorist acts and attacks on LEAs, killing and injuring civilians and soldiers. He admitted his offenses before a magistrate and trial court. He was tried on four charges and awarded a death sentence.

Aksan Mehboob, son of Asghar Ali

The convict was an active member of Al Qaeda. He was involved in attacks on LEAs with fire-arms, killing and injuring soldiers. He admitted his offences before a magistrate and trial court. He was tried on four charges and awarded a death sentence.

Adbul Rauf Gujjar, son of Rehmat Ali (Accused no. 1), Muhammad Hashim, son of Muhammad Abdullah (Accused no. 2), Sulaman, son of Boneer (Accused no. 3), Shafqat Farooqi, son of Malik Liaqat Ali (Accused no. 4) and Muhammad Farhan, son of Muhammad Rafique (Accused no. 5)

These five convicts were active members of Sipah-i-Sahaba. They were involved in the killing of civilians in Lahore.

Accused no. 1 was punished for target killing of 4 civilians namely Syed Shakir Ali Rizvi, Syed Waqar Haider, Syed Arshad Ali and Ghulam Mustafa, as well as causing injuries to Abdul Sattar Tahir and Anwar Hussain in Lahore.

Accused nos. 2 to 5 were involved in the murder of Ghulam Mustafa and injury of Anwar Hussain. These convicts admitted their offenses before a magistrate.

Accused no. 1 was tried on 8 charges whereas accused nos. 2 to 5 were tried on 4 charges each and all have been awarded a death sentence.