Pakistan Army chief confirms death sentence of 12 terrorists

Islamabad, Feb 11

 Pakistan Army chief General Raheel Sharif on Thursday confirmed death sentence to another 12 "hardcore terrorists", who were involved in "heinous offences", the military said.

Some of the convicts were found guilty of attacks on armed forces, law enforcement agencies and civilians and breaking out of a key prison in the northwestern city of Bannu in 2012, Xinhua news agency reported.

Nearly 400 inmates, including dozens of Taliban militants, were freed during the attack on the jail.

These convicts were tried by military courts, an army statement said, adding that all of them had admitted involvement in the offences.

The army courts were set up after the terrorist attack on an army school in December 2014 for the speedy trial of terrorism-related accused.

Those whose death penalties were approved belong to the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Al Qaeda and a banned sectarian outfit, Sipah-e-Sahaba. This group is blamed for attacks on Shia Muslims.

The convicts have the right of appeal to the president under the law, experts say. The President has previously rejected all mercy petitions in terrorism-related cases.