Army chief confirms death sentences for 6 terrorists involved in Peshawar school attack

One terrorist awarded life imprisonment; Convict involved in 2011 Safoora attack also awarded death penalty, says ISPR

RAWALPINDI: As many as seven terrorists involved in attacks on the Army Public School in Peshawar and Safoora Chowrangi attacks were awarded death sentences by a military court on Thursday. One other terrorist was awarded life imprinsonment.

According to an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement, army chief General Raheel Sharif has confirmed that eight terrorists were tried under the Pakistan Army Act 2015.

“In view of the nature and gravity of offences preferred against each, seven terrorists have been awarded death sentences, whereas one terrorist has been awarded life imprisonment by the military courts,” reads the ISPR statement.

Read: 132 children killed in Peshawar school attack

#COAS confirms death sentence of 7 hard core terrorists.6 involved in APS Attk&1 in Safoora.8th awarded life [e-mail]

— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) August 13, 2015

The statement added that convicts were given a fair trial by following all legal formalities and offering/ providing them legal aid and defence counsels.

“Today, the sentences of death have been confirmed by the Chief of Army Staff. The convicts have the right to file an appeal before the Court of Appeals.”

On December 16, 2014, the Taliban launched a heinous attack on an Army Public School in Peshawar, killing over 150 people, mostly students.

Following the attack, the government lifted the moratorium on death penalties in the country and formed a National Action Plan, which went on to establish military courts to try terrorists.

Providing details of the convictions, the ISPR said all those convicted for the attack on APS belonged to the obscure militant group Toheedwal Jihad group (TWJ).

Apart from the APS attack, they were involved in several other attacks on law enforcement agencies, kidnapping for ransom cases, among others and were charged for multiple crimes.

APS convictions

Toheedwal Jihad Group (TWJ) member Hazrat Ali has been involved in attacking law enforcement agencies, abetting kidnappings and killings of Levies soldiers, as well as collecting funds for the attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar.

The second convict Mujeebur Rehman, an active member of Toheedwal Jihad Group, was involved in transporting 10 suicide bombers for the attack on Pakistan Air Force Base in Peshawar. He is also accused of attacking the law enforcement agencies and abettment in the attack on Army Public School Peshawar.

Another Toheedwal Jihad Group activist Sabeel alisas Yahya was also involved in the attack on Pakistan Air Force Base Peshawar. He had also been an abettor in the attack on the Army Public School Peshawar.

Molvi Abdus Salam from the same terrorist group has been accused of harbouring suicide bombers, later used in the attack on Army Public School Peshawar.

Taj Muhammad alias Rizwan, an active member of TTP, had carried out attacks on the armed forces and was also accused of harbouring suicide bombers for the APS attack.

Ateequr Rehman alias Usman, a member of Toheedwal Jihad Group (TWJ), is accused of attacking a Crime Investigation Department’s Police Station, providing funds for illegal activities, abetting deaths of two colonels and director of the National Development Complex (NDC) and abetted attack on APS.

Toheedwal Jihad Group member Kifayatullah alias Kaif Qari was awarded life imprisonment and was found involved in using Improvised Explosive Devices at the residence of two civilians and transporting arms and ammunition. He had also been in league with the accused persons involved in the attack on the Army Public School Peshawar.

Safoora Chowrangi Attack

Jaish-e-Muhammad activist Muhammad Farhan alias Ali had been involved in attacks on law enforcement agencies. He was convicted of attacking the Rangers at Safoora Chowk Karachi with an improvised explosive device which resulted in the deaths of three Rangers personnel and injuries to four others.