4 ‘hardcore terrorists’ convicted by military courts hanged: ISPR

Four “hardcore terrorists” sentenced by military courts were executed on Wednesday, a statement released by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Army’s public relations wing, said.

The ISPR said the convicted terrorists were involved in heinous offences, including terrorism, the killing of innocent civilians, attacking a mosque, destruction of communication infrastructure and attacking law enforcement agencies and armed forces.

All four convicts were active members of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and were awarded the death sentence by military courts.

Qaiser Khan: He was involved in the killing of an innocent civilian and destruction of communication infrastructure. The suspect admitted his offenses before a magistrate and the trial court.

Muhammad Umar: He was involved in the destruction of an educational institution and attacking the armed forces of Pakistan, which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers. The convict admitted his offenses before a magistrate and the trial court.

Qari Zubair Muhammad: He was involved in abetting a suicide attack on a mosque, which resulted in the death of soldiers, civilians and injuries to several others. He was also charged with possessing firearms and explosives. The convict admitted his offenses before a magistrate and the trial court.

Aziz Khan: He was involved in attacking the armed forces of Pakistan which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers and the destruction of a communication system. He was also in possession of a suicide jacket. The convict admitted his offenses before a magistrate and the trial court.

Military courts

Military courts were disbanded on January 7, 2017, after a sunset clause included in the legal provisions under which the tribunals were established, expired.

However, on March 31 President Mamnoon Hussain gave his formal assent to the Pakistan Army Act 2017 and the 23rd Constitutional Amendment Bill ─ the two pieces of legislation aimed at granting legal cover to military courts ─ after they were cleared by the parliament and senate.

The courts were subsequently revived and given legal cover from the day of their disbandment.

Source: Dawn