COAS confirms death sentence to nine hardcore terrorists

Army chief witnesses night field manoeuvre drill;
appreciates excellent standard of training, professional skills and high morale of troops

RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) on Monday confirmed the death sentences awarded to another nine hardcore terrorists.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the COAS confirmed the death sentence of those hardcore criminals who were involved in heinous offences related to terrorism, including killing of innocent civilians, slaughtering of Levies officials and attacking armed forces personnel. These terrorists also include those who fired at a PIA plane landing at the Peshawar Airport, which resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to two other passengers. They were also involved in cutting off hands of four police officials. Firearms and explosives were also recovered from their possession. These convicts were tried by military courts.

Following are the details of each case:

1. Sajid, s/o Ibrahim Khan: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in firing on a PIA plane landing at Peshawar Airport, which resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to two other passengers.

He was also involved in killings of innocent civilians and attacking law enforcement agencies, which resulted in the death of Pir Israr along with his eight family members, civilian Niaz Gul, Assistant Sub Inspector Sajid Khan and injuries to civilians and police officials. The convict was in possession of firearms and explosives. He admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was awarded death sentence.

2. Javed Khan, s/o Faqeer Gul: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in killing of innocent civilians, attacking law enforcement agencies and armed forces of Pakistan, which resulted in deaths of civilian Raheem Ullah, Sepoy Naseer Ahmed and Sepoy Bacha Hasan. He was also involved in slaughtering of Havaldar Hazrat Ghani. He was found in possession of firearms and explosives. The convict admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was awarded death sentence.

3. Fazl-e-Haq, s/o Shahdad: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He kidnapped and cut off hands of four police officials.

He was also involved in killing of innocent civilians and attacking law enforcement agencies, which resulted in the death of civilian Abdul Wahab and police constable Saifur Rehman. The convict admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was awarded death sentence.

4. Fazal Rehman, s/o Fazal Karim: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking law enforcement agencies and armed forces of Pakistan, which resulted in the death of Major Muhammad Ehsan, Havildar Muhammad Al Haleem, Naik Ghulam Abbas, Sepoy Tasmeur Rehman, Sepoy Muqadar Khan, Sepoy Naseem Iqbal and injures to several soldiers. He was also in possession of firearms. The convict admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was awarded death sentence.

5. Zahid Khan, s/o Kitab Shah: The convict was an active member of Lashkar-e-Islam. He was involved in attacking the armed forces of Pakistan and law enforcement agencies, which resulted in deaths of Havildar Noor Mast, Naik Shabir, Naik Farman, Sepoy Humayun, Sepoy Fakhar Alam, Sepoy Ismail of Frontier Constabulary and injuries to several soldiers. The convict admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was awarded death sentence.

6. Umar Saeed, s/o Hazrat Saeed: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking law enforcement agencies, which resulted in deaths of Naib Subedar Hassan Faraz, Lance Naik Ruban Ali, Sepoy Badri Zaman, Sepoy Gul Wazir, Assistant Sub-Inspector Noor Zaman and injuries to several soldiers. He was also in possession of firearms and explosives. The convict admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was awarded death sentence.

7. Rahmat, s/o Ismail Khan: The convict was an active member of Lashkar-e-Islam who was involved in attacking the armed forces of Pakistan and law enforcement agencies which resulted in deaths of Havaldar Wali, Sepoy Matti, Lance Naik Ismail and injuries to Lieutenant Abbas of Frontier Constabulary and several other soldiers. He was also in possession of explosives. The convict admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was awarded death sentence.

8. Bakht Wali, s/o Amal Khan: The convict was an active member of Lashkar-e-Islam. He was involved in attacking the armed forces of Pakistan, which resulted in deaths of Sepoy Muhammad Zeeshan. The convict admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was awarded death sentence.

9. Nazeer Ahmed, s/o Allahdad: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking law enforcement agencies, which resulted in deaths of Head Constable Muhammad Yousaf and injuries to a police official. The convict admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was awarded death sentence.

On the other hand, the troops of Pakistan Army conducted night field manoeuvre exercise to validate operational plans besides enhancing preparedness.

Meanwhile, the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif, visited the exercise area around Kharian-Gujranwala and witnessed the troops engaged in the ongoing army field exercise, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated in a press release here on Monday.

The COAS was briefed in detail about the objectives and conduct of the exercise from newly-inducted hi-tech net enabled virtual war room. He later also witnessed field manoeuvre at night. The army field exercise is being conducted in Central and Southern Command to validate operational plans and enhance own preparedness. Infantry and mechanised columns of the central command with their requisite supporting troops and the Punjab Rangers are carrying out the exercise.

The COAS appreciated an excellent standard of training, professional skills and high morale of the participating troops.

Commander Central Command Lt. Gen Umar Durrani, Commander Gujranwala Corps Lt. Gen Ikram-ul-Haq and Inspector General Training and Evaluation (IGTE) Lt Gen Qamar Bajwa were also present.