Possible terrorist reactions: Spy agencies warn of death row fallout
Terrorists to execute high-profile hostages if death penalty moratorium ends, according to reports.
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.