Pakistani army chief confirms death sentence of 12 "hardcore terrorists"

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

Some of the convicts were found guilty of attacks on armed forces, law enforcement agencies and civilians and breaking of a main prison in the northwestern city of Bannu in 2012.

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 had confessed 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 the terrorism-related accused.

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

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

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had earlier advised the president to reject all mercy petitions of the militants as they have been responsible for the killing of the security men and civilians.

The military courts were established for the speedy trial of the militants with a wide-range of consensus and amendment in the constitution. Enditem