ISLAMABAD: Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif on Tuesday approved death penalties awarded by military courts to 10 more militants of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) who were involved in the killing of security personnel.

“Today Chief of Army Staff confirmed death sentences awarded to another 10 hardcore terrorists, who were involved in heinous offences related to terrorism,” the Inter-Services Public Relations said.

This will possibly be the last batch of terrorists whose death sentences have been approved by Gen Sharif before his retirement next Tuesday.

The military courts were set up through the 21st Amendment to the Constitution in January 2015, after the tragic Army Public School incident, for a period of two years for speedy trial of terrorism cases. The special courts have so far decided over 200 cases in which 136 people have been given death sentences. Ninety-six others have been awarded life imprisonment.

Only 12 convicts have been executed so far, according to figures available with Dawn.

Military courts would cease to function in January after the expiry of their constitutionally mandated term. Neither the total number of cases referred to military courts by provincial governments nor that of remaining cases is publicly known.

It isn’t clear if a mechanism has been devised to deal with cases that will remain pending after the completion of the constitutional term of the courts.

The government is still undecided about the future of leftover cases from courts established under the Protection of Pakistan Act (PoPA), 2014, another anti-terrorist legislation, which lapsed earlier this year after completing its two-year period.

The terrorists whose death penalties have been approved by the army chief include Hanifa s/o Umar Zareen (TTP) for kidnapping and slaughtering of Captain Jonaid Khan, Captain Najam Riaz Raja, Naik Shahid Rasool and Lance Naik Shakeel Ahmed during operation in Swat in 2009.

Tirah Gul s/o Khan and Mohammad Wali s/o Faulad Khan (LI) were found to be involved in the killing of Havildar Noor Mast, Naik Farman Ali, Naik Shabbir Akhtar, Sepoy Humayun, Sepoy Fakhar Alam, Sepoy Ismail and injuries to many other soldiers during an attack on a camp of the Frontier Constabulary in Jhansi Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency in 2010.

Zahid Khan s/o Kitab Shah had earlier been given death sentence in the same case.

Others who have been given capital punishment are Khaista Mohammad s/o Abdul Jalil (TTP) for attacks on army personnel and destruction of girls’ schools and phone company tower; Ali Rehman s/o Habibur Rehman, Fazal Ali s/o Fazal Wahid and Mohammad Ali s/o Abdul Rehman (TTP); Nisar Ali s/o Damsaz Khan (TTP); Khial Jan s/o Sayel Jan (LI); and Payo Jan s/o Asal Jan (LI).

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2016