Four ‘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 educational institutions and attacking law enforcement agencies and armed forces.

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

Ahmed Ali: He was involved in attacking Pakistani armed forces, law enforcement agencies and the destruction of an educational institution which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers and civilian.The suspect admitted his offences before a magistrate and the trial court.

Asghar Khan: He was involved in attacking armed forces, law enforcement agencies and destruction of an educational institution which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers. The convict admitted his offences before a magistrate and the trial court.

Haroon ur Rasheed: He was involved in attacking armed forces, law enforcement agencies and destruction of an educational institution which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers and civilian. He was also charged with possessing firearms and explosives. The convict admitted his offences before a magistrate and the trial court.

Gul Rehman: He was involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan which resulted in the death of a civilian and a soldier. He was also in possession of explosives. The convict admitted his offences 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