RAWALPINDI, Sept 29: The Adiala Central Jail currently houses 67 notorious terrorists of which 14 are convicted of high profile attacks while the remaining are under trial in major terrorist cases, Dawn has learnt.

Of these 14, seven have been awarded the death sentence for various terrorist activities such as the attack on former president Pervez Musharraf, suicide attack on Pakistan Ordnance Factories, attack on former governor Punjab Salman Taseer and others.

Due to the presence of high profile prisoners and continuous threats of attack by the proscribed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), army authorities and security agencies are reviewing the security of the jail on a daily basis.

A police official, while citing intelligence agencies, said Adnan Rashid, a Taliban commander who had been freed from the Bannu Jail by militants in 2012, had threatened an assault on Adiala jail similar to the one on Dera Ismail Khan Prison in July 2013. During the assault, a large number of TTP militants had been freed.

This threat has forced the army, district police and prison authorities to hold emergency sessions to review security of the heavily-guarded Adiala jail which houses 67 notorious prisoners in addition to approximately 5,000 others.

A list of the major 14 convicted terrorists, their crimes and their punishments is provided in the table.

The remaining 53 high profile prisoners languishing in Adiala Central Jail are under trial for terrorist activities such as the Mumbai attacks in 2008, assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 2007, attack on Nato oil tankers in March 2010, Inspector Raja Saqlain murder case and recovery of explosives in Rawalpindi and Islamabad between 2008 and 2013.

Similarly, seven prisoners are under trial for the Bhara Kahu suicide attack, one for the murder of FIA prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar and two suspects in the Pir Chumbal blast in Choa Saidan Shah in November 2011.

Among these 53 under-trial prisoners, 34 are being tried inside the jail premises by the Anti-Terrorism Court while the remaining prisoners are being tried by the same court outside the premises.

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...