RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday confirmed the death sentence awarded to 22 hardcore terrorists, who were involved in heinous offences related to terrorism.

According to an Inter-Services Public Relations press release, the terrorists were involved in attacks on the personnel of armed forces and law enforcement agencies, sectarian killings by bomb blasts, destruction of communication infrastructure, attacks on police check-posts and educational institutions and killing of innocent civilians.

On the whole, their terrorist activities resulted in death of 176 persons, inc­luding 19 armed forces personnel, 41 police and Levies officials and 116 civilians, besides injuries to 217 other people.

Convicts include those involved in 2013 Abbas Town and 2006 Nishtar Park attacks

Arms and explosives were recovered from their possession. These convicts were tried by special military courts. Besi­des, 15 convicts were awarded impri­sonment. However, two convicts tried by the special military court were found not guilty and they were acquitted.

All the convicts were members of banned organisations and they admitted their offences before judicial magistrates and trial courts. They all were found in possession of firearms and explosives.

Following are the details of those who were awarded death sentences:

Khairuddin, Mohammad Ishaq, Ina­m­ullah, Alam Sher, Irfan and Moham­mad Shafique were involved in the killing of innocent civilians by exploding an explosive-laden vehicle at Karachi’s Abbas Town in 2013 which resulted in the death of 57 persons and injuries to 79 others.

Sultan Mehmood was involved in the killing of innocent civilians by abetting a suicide bombing on April 11, 2006 at Nishtar Park, Karachi which resulted in the death of 54 people and injuries to 113 others.

Mohammad Tahir was involved in the killing of innocent civilians and attacks on armed forces’ personnel which resulted in the death of Major Hafiz Attique Ahmed, Captain Amir Butt, Havaldar Abdul Aziz and five other soldiers.

Zafar Ali was involved in attacks on armed forces’ personnel which resulted in the death of Naib Subedar Moham­mad Hanif, Havaldar Mohammad Nas­eer, Havaldar Mohammad Qayyum Ahmad, Naik Iftikhar Ali and two other soldiers and injuries to nine other soldiers.

Umar Karim was involved in the killing of an innocent civilian and attacks on armed forces’ personnel which resulted in the death of civilian Masood Ahmed, Major Hafiz Attique Ahmed, Captain Amir Butt, Havaldar Abdul Aziz and three other soldiers.

Mohammad Sher Wali Khan and Rahmat Shah were involved in attacks on law enforcement agencies’ personnel which resulted in the death of Assistant Sub Inspector Noor Zaman, Naib Subedar Hussain Faraz and three other solders and injuries to five other people.

Bakhtawar and Rasheed Ullah were involved in the killing of innocent civilians and attacks on law enforcement agencies’ personnel which resulted in the death of civilians Sultan Moham­mad and Malik Bahram Khan and 28 personnel of Levies and police and injuries to four other police officials.

Faheem Uddin was involved in the killing of police and Levies officials and attacks on law enforcement agencies’ personnel which resulted in the death of six soldiers.

Zahir Shah was involved in the killing of Sepoy Gohar Ali and Aamir Sher of Levies and the Khasadar force.

Said Mohammad was involved in attacks on armed forces’ personnel which resulted in the death of Havaldar Allah Dita and Sepoy Bacha Hussain. He was also involved in destruction of Government Girls Middle School, Gulibagh as well as abducting of a civilian for ransom.

Arab Jan was involved in attacks on law enforcement agencies’ personnel which resulted in the death of Sepoy Said Amin.

Mohammad Ishaq was involved in attacks on armed forces’ personnel and destruction of an education institution which resulted in the death of three soldiers.

Tanhaj Ali was involved in attacks armed forces’ personnel which resulted in the death of Naib Subedar Mohammad Hanif and Sepoy Shoukat Ali and injuries to three other soldiers.

Abdul Rafee was involved in attacks on personnel of armed forces and law enforcement agencies which resulted in the death of Naib Subedar Mohammad Hanif, Sepoy Ikhlas Ahmed and Sepoy Shoukat Ali and injuries to six other soldiers. He was also involved in destruction of the Government Primary School, Langar.

Mohammad Ishaq was involved in the killing of innocent civilians and attacks on law enforcement agencies’ personnel which resulted in the death of police constable Yasir Ali and civilians Aftab Ahmed and Ali Haider and injuries to two other persons.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2018