Terror trial: Military courts condemn five terrorists to death

Convicts involved in sectarian attacks, Bannu jailbreak; army chief confirms the convictions

ISLAMABAD:

Five ‘hardcore terrorists’ tried for terrorism charges were awarded death sentence by the military courts, said a statement issued on Wednesday by the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

“COAS [Chief of the Army Staff] confirms death sentences of another five hardcore terrorists involved in killing of an advocate at Lahore, sectarian killings in Quetta, killings of police officials at Gadap, Karachi, breaking of Bannu jail, attack on a girls school in Khyber Agency and attack on a polio team in Khyber Agency,” the ISPR said.

“Out of six terrorists, five were awarded death sentence and one life imprisonment by the military courts,” it added. The condemned terrorists include Muhammad Sabir Shah, alias Ikram Ullah, s/o Sher Hazrat, Muhammad Usman, alias Abbas, alias Asad, s/o Ali Dost, Asad Ali, alias Bhai Jan, Tahir, s/o Mir Shah Jahan, and Fateh Khan, s/o Mukaram Khan.

Qari Ameen Shah, alias Ameen, s/o Minar Shah was given life imprisonment.

Earlier on August 13, the army chief had confirmed the death sentences of seven terrorists. They included those involved in the massacre at the Army Public School in Peshawar in December last year. The prosecution of terrorists appears to be expedited after the Supreme Court upheld the military courts in a landmark judgment last month.

Following are details of charge sheet and profile of convicted terrorists,

1. Civilian Muhammad Sabir Shah, alias Ikram Ullah, s/o Sher Hazrat: The convict was an active member of a proscribed organisation. He was found involved in abetting murder of Advocate Syed Arshad Ali in Lahore. He confessed to his offence before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on solitary charge and awarded death sentence.

2. Civilian Hafiz Muhammad Usman, alias Abbas, alias Asad, s/o Ali Dost: The convict was an active member of a proscribed organisation. He was found involved in sectarian killings in Quetta and attacks on police. He was convicted of killing and abetment for killing of Hassan Ali Yousafi, Advocate Waliat Hussain and other civilians. He also abetted killing of two industrialists namely Syed Talib Agha and Syed Jawad Agha belonging to a particular sect. He was also convicted of attacking and killing four police persons, including DSP Hassan Ali, Constables Nasrullah, Sifatullah and Muhammad Taqi. He admitted his offence before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried for 11 charges and awarded death sentence.

3. Civilian Asad Ali, alias Bhai Jan: The convict was an active member of the Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was found involved in possessing firearms/explosives and attacking officials of the Sindh police, in Quaidabad Area, Karachi. This attack resulted in the death of three individuals, including DSP Kamal Mangon and ASI Akbar Hussain, and injuries to nine individuals, including three head constables. He admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried for five charges and awarded death sentence.

4. Civilian Tahir, s/o Mir Shah Jahan:  The convict was an active member of the Tehreek-e- Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking/breaking Bannu jail owing to which a number of terrorists managed to escape. He was also found involved in attacks on law enforcement agencies which resulted in the death of one soldier and injuries to another. He admitted his offence before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried for three charges and awarded death sentence.

5. Civilian Fateh Khan, s/o Mukaram Khan: The convict was an active member of a proscribed organisation. He was found involved in slaughtering a civilian, attacking polio workers, individuals of a law enforcement agency and armed forces personnel. This attack resulted in the death of a child, 11 Khasadars, two army officers, 22 soldiers and injured one civilian, nine Khasadars and 25 soldiers. He admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried for eight charges and awarded death sentence.

6. Civilian Qari Ameen Shah, alias Ameen, s/o Minar Shah: The convict was an active member of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was found involved in an attack of a girls primary school in Khyber Agency, providing funds for terrorists activities, exploding an IED and possessing explosives. He admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried for four charges and awarded life imprisonment.


Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2015.