Terrorists to execute high-profile hostages if death penalty moratorium ends, according to reports. PHOTO: FILE
Intelligence agencies have cautioned civilian authorities that they risked terror assaults and possible hostage executions by militant outfits if the moratorium on the death penalty was lifted, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Intelligence agencies have apparently shared this information with the interior ministry.
According to reports, banned militant outfits, such as al Qaeda and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have plans to stage terror attacks and execute high-profile hostages, currently in their custody, if TTP militants, which are currently on death row are executed, an indirect consequence of not lifting the capital punishment moratorium.
A European Union (EU) human rights delegation on Tuesday had also warned Pakistan that resuming executions will be seen as a ‘major setback’, in the backdrop of European Parliament’s considerations of granting the country a preferential trade status.
The incumbent government had earlier scrapped a five-year moratorium on the death penalty in June in a bid to crack down on hardcore terrorists. Hangings were due to resume last week, until a temporary stay was ordered by the prime minister following summaries by the foreign and interior ministries.
Sources familiar with the matter, while talking to The Express Tribune, claimed that intelligence reports related to al Qaeda and TTP plans, forced the government to review its earlier decision of implementing executions.
Circulars based on intelligence reports forwarded to the police and other law enforcement agencies by the interior ministry, revealed that if the government executed top TTP associates awaiting capital punishment such as Dr Usman, then Brigadier (retd) Tahir Masood, Shahbaz Taseer, son of slain governor Punjab Salman Taseer and Ali Haider Gilani, son of former premier Yousaf Raza Gilani, who are currently in terrorists’ custody, will be executed.
Unidentified armed men had kidnapped former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officer Brig (retd) Tahir Masood and gunned down his guard for resisting, on October 11, 2012.
It also stated that in order to pressurise the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leadership to reconsider and revoke the aforesaid decision, reconnaissance of 21 targets, most likely in Lahore, including the US Consulate, jails and LEA set-ups in Punjab had been carried out by the terrorists for possible attacks.
Another circular based on an intelligence report stated that militant groups based in Miramshah are planning to evolve a joint strategy against the government’s decision of resuming capital punishment. A similar report revealed that TTP militants in collaboration with the Punjabi Taliban and Tariq-Geedar group are planning to retaliate if Dr Usman is hanged in Faisalabad jail.
Also, Badar-Mansoor group, headed by Adnan Rasheed was planning to break the Faisalabad jail along with support from Lashkar-e- Jhangvi activists and Matiur Rehman group of the Punjabi Taliban. The report stated that al Qaeda’s tentacles also had presence in Faisalabad in the garb of foreign students.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2013.
COMMENTS (22)
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i think that theey should talk with the people and figur out a way than just hanging and hanging the ttp have do do better and also the others
Thousand of people assembled around the dead bodies laying on the ground more than 40 in number, they were targeted by suicide attack,here is a question creats in the minde who is responsible for the tragedy, and responsible wether deserve sympaty or pardon.
Resulting in thorough investigation based on impartiality and faireness, some one appeare innocent is derserve pardon can be released,
No permission be granted to create state in state,in case anyone commite such heinous crime,According to the law and constitution liable to death sentence.
Don't bow down before the terrorists,insurgents enemy of country's security and sovereignty People have voted you power,you are democratically elected leader you have legal and constitutional authority.Writ of the government must be stand.bargaining on it no never at any cost.
They are operating against country's security,they fire on school girls, and play with people's life and property,they take the country's economy on the brink.
present circumstances being faced by the whole nation who is responsible,they are responsible .
In fact, they deserve no moratorium sympathy or concession.
What says the writ of the state.What says the law of the land.There must be no compromise on it.Classification in the procedure or justice is not acceptable because,according to the historical high profiles without justice state can not existe.
Bring to justice all those who played innocent's lives and destroyed houses of large of poor citizen of the country.
In case they put demand counter demand can be produced to them because authority concerned have in their custody many insurgents arrested redhanded.
Why doesn't the government exchange some Taliban for these prisoners.(they escape anyway).Just put some electronic tags on them so that you can follow them to their sanctuaries.And all Taliban prisoners should be tagged in case they escape.Will be much cheaper, and effective than other interventions.
@Haris Malik: Very lame.
The Govt. has already taken the first step to pacify the terrorists by temporarily staying the death sentences, only because the few elites life have been threatened. The people of PAKISTAN Have already sacrificed for the Nation, Its time the Elites should sacrefice for the Nation. The brutal killers and terrorist should be put to death and if Europe dosent like it they don't have to have it.
As per some ranking given by former ISI chief , Pakistani ISI is the no. 1 Intelligence agency in world, even ahead of USA team who located OBL. LOL
Our agencies, infect every institution is helpless infront of chaos created by TTP. They are killing, blackmailing us and what we are doing is just watching all the situation like a spectators... Pathetic
Before posting such comments; Please do keep in mind the pain and agony of the families of the individuals these TTPs have threatened to Kill! I am son, and the only child, of the above mentioned Brig (retd) Tahir Masood... And you all have NO idea what my family is going through right now.... You want people to stand up to them, I volunteer! but NOT my father. So please, I beg all of you to join hands to compell the governement to do anything and everything for an early and safe release of my Father!
Rubbish.
ET is part of the game siding with TTP.
The only SOLUTION is identify them and DRONE them.
And the EU is supporting the Taliban??
What is the proof of this report ET?There isn't any mention of your source in the whole article.I don't think every report should be in media nor should media create its own reports and attribute it with agencies.
In 1998, when Pakistan backed Terrorists hijacked an Indian plane and took it to Kandahar and demanded the release of 3 comrades, India had to release them. The lives of people in the plane was much greater than the Terrorists. India had no choice.
Only if Pakistan hadn't supported such elements, it would not have been stuck in such a tricky situation today.
I guess Karma is really true - What goes around, comes around.
Lol... Agencies indirectly stating that Taliban are stronger than our establishment and security agencies. Bravo...
The new big bang theories of agencies. Remember for decades long Pakistan along with foreign support have been destroyed the future and lives of thousands and thousands of youngs, under age; first training and equipped them, have been using them as buffer forces and non-state actors for long at various fronts. Then after the fulfillment of their agenda these traditional forces have been started blaming and eliminating through various propaganda and conflicts. As you sown so shall you reap.
These intelligence agencies officials should be given a bashing or they should be fired. It is there incompetence that has led us to where we are today. Instead of being a messenger between the government and TTP , why they cannot arrest a few more high value targets of TTP. Give them a stronger message that you would bomb there locations. Anyways you know the locations or the key messengers. On other hand , Pakistan is getting to its knees to get a release for one of TTP high value people , Aafia Siddiqui from US. When rest of Pakistan is burning, then why to spend foreign office resources for one person ?
Such a shame that even intelligence agencies are afraid of terrorists. Rather than locating these kidnappers and planners our intel agencies are actually giving warning to to the government to be lenient to them. It is the height of non professionalism in our agencies.
WOW, TTP threatens to "execute" high value hostages (after already "executing" some 30,000 plus Pakistanis and counting) if any of their own are killed!! How about the government returning the favor and telling the TTP that if any more Pakistanis are killed, then the government will execute "high value" TTP types!!!!