Pakistan confirms death sentence to 10 "hardcore terrorists"

Pakistani Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif on Thursday confirmed death sentences to another 10 "hardcore terrorists" involved in heinous offenses related to terrorism including killing of innocent civilians, polio workers, NGO employees, police officials and armed forces personnel, the military said.

The convicts admitted their offenses before the magistrates and the trial courts, an army statement said. Firearms and explosives were also recovered from their possession.

These convicts were tried by military courts, the statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations said, adding that they were active members of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

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

The convicted have the right to appeal to the president under the law. However, the president has previously rejected all mercy petitions in terrorism-related cases.

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