‘Hardcore terrorists’: Army chief signs death warrants of 10 more convicts

Terrorists were involved in attacks on civilians, servicemen, polio workers and NGO employees

ISLAMABAD: Army chief General Raheel Sharif on Thursday signed death warrants of another 10 ‘hardcore terrorists’, who were tried by the military courts on charges of terrorism and other heinous crimes.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the terrorists were involved in offences related to terrorism including killing of innocent civilians, polio workers, NGO employees, police officials and armed forces personnel. “All 10 convicts belong to the outlawed Tehreek-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),”said the military’s media wing, adding that “firearms and explosives were also recovered from their possession.”

Following the latest announcement, the number of people awarded death sentence by the military courts has now jumped to 117.

The military courts, run by army officials, were created as part of the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism adopted in the wake of massacre of schoolchildren at Peshawar’s Army Public School in December 2014.



The convicts were identified as Muhammad Shahid, Hussain Shah, Zafar Iqbal, Anwer Zeb, Obaid ur Rehman, Sher Alam, Atta Ullah, Mushtaq Khan, Asghar Khan and Shamsul Qamar.

Terrorists’ details

According to the ISPR, Muhammad Shahid was involved in killing of two female polio workers, 11 employees of an NGO as well as several other civilians.  He was also involved in killing and injuring members of the Law Enforcing Agencies (LEAs).

Hussain Shah was convicted for attacking armed forces. These attacks resulted in death of Major Mustafa, Captain Waseem and several soldiers and caused injuries to many others. Zafar Iqbal was found guilty of attacking the LEAs. These attacks resulted in death of Frontier Constabulary’s (FC) Subedar Awal Khan and Naik Azmat Ullah. He also injured ASI Chanar Gul and FC’s Sepoy Shafique. The convict also possessed illegal firearms and explosives.

Anwer Zeb was tried for abduction of Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Khaqqan Afzal, slaughtering of SI (retd) Umar Ghani and killing of a civilian. Illegal firearms and explosives were also recovered from his possession.

Obaid ur Rehman was convicted for killing innocent civilians. He admitted to his offences before the magistrate and the trial court and was awarded death sentence. Sher Alam was tried for attacking the LEAs and killing of civilians. He also possessed illegal firearms and explosives.

Atta Ullah, Mushtaq Khan and Asghar Khan were active members of the TTP and were found guilty of attacking the LEAs. These attacks resulted in death of several soldiers and caused injures to Captain Asif.

Shams ul Qamar was awarded death sentence for attacks which resulted in death of police officials and injuries to civilians. The convict admitted to his offences before the magistrate and the trial court, said the ISPR.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2016.