Saad Aziz among 5 'hardcore terrorists' sentenced to death by military court

Aziz was suspected of killing T2F director Sabeen Mahmud, as well as being involved in Safoora Goth bus attack

Army chief General Raheel Sharif confirmed on Thursday the death sentences of five 'hardcore terrorists' involved in various acts of terror, including Saad Aziz, who was arrested last year for the murder of rights activist Sabeen Mahmud.

#COAS confirms death sentence to 5 hardcore terrorist perpetrator f Safoora bus attk,Sabeen Mahmud's killing,IED near Saleh Masjid-Mil Court

— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) May 12, 2016

“Today Chief of Army Staff confirmed death sentences awarded to five hardcore terrorists who perpetrated Safoora Chowrangi bus attack and were also involved in IED blast near Saleh Masjid Karachi, killing of a social worker Sabeen Mahmud and attacks on LEAs,” a press statement issued by the military’s media wing, ISPR, said.

“These convicts were tried by military courts,” the communiqué added.

Mahmud, the director and founder of The Second Floor (T2F) café, was shot dead by gunmen in the upscale Defence Housing Authority neighbourhood of the metropolis on April 25, 2015.

Later in May 2015, at least six gunmen had shot dead 45 members of the Ismaili community abroad a community bus in Safoora Goth, on the outskirts of Karachi.

Details of convicts:

1. Saad Aziz s/o Abdul Aziz Sheikh – Tried on nine charges


2. Tahir Hussain Minhas s/o Khadim Hussain Minhas – Tried on 10 charges


3. Asadur Rehman s/o Atique ur Rehman - Tried on four charges


4. Hafiz Nasir s/o Afzal Ahmed – Tried on five charges


5. Muhammad Azhar Ishrat S/O Ishrat Rasheed Ahmed. – Tried on five charges

According to the military’s media wing, these five convicts were active members of al Qaeda, a global terror outfit.

“They were involved in attacking a bus of Ismaili community at Safoora Chowrangi in Karachi, which resulted in death and injuries to the passengers.”

“They were also involved in attack on Saleh Masjid Karachi, killing of a social worker Sabeen and attacking law enforcement agencies.”

The convicts admitted their offences before the trial court, the statement added.