Sectarian killings: New execution dates for LeJ activists

KARACHI:

Black warrants have been issued again by the Anti-Terrorism Court III for the executions of convicted Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) activists Ataullah and Mohammad Azam.

Ataullah and Mohammad Azam are facing capital punishment for committing a sectarian murder in 2001.

ATC III has also issued a black warrant for Behram Khan, who was found guilty of killing a lawyer in 2003.

The black warrants for the LeJ activists were issued previously but were stayed on June 25.

If another stay order is not issued, Ataullah and Azam will be executed on July 18.

Behram Khan’s execution is listed for July 17.

Ataullah, whose alias is Qasim, and Mohammad Azam (alias Sharif) are also co-accused in a 2002 sectarian murder case, along with Lashkar-e-Jhangvi leader Akram Lahori.

They were arrested along with Akram Lahori in 2002. That case is currently being heard inside Central Jail.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2012.