Pakistan army chief confirms death sentence to 9 hardcore terrorists

Pakistani Army Chief General Raheel Sharif on Monday confirmed death sentences to nine hardcore terrorists after they were found guilty of carrying out terrorist acts, the military said.

The convicts are associated with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Islam groups. Both groups are accused of attacking the security forces, political leaders, government officials and members of the peace committees.

These convicts were tried by military courts. The army courts were set up after a terrorist attack on an army school in the northwestern city of Peshawar in December 2014 for speedy trials of the terrorism-related accused.

"Today Chief of Army Staff confirmed death sentences awarded to another 9 hardcore terrorists, who were involved in heinous offenses related to terrorism including, killing of innocent civilians, slaughtering of levies officials and attacking Armed Forces personnel," an army statement said.

These terrorists also include those who fired at a Pakistan International Airlines plane landing at Peshawar Airport which resulted in death of a lady and injuries to two other passengers in June 2014.

They were also involved in cutting off hands of four police officials, a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations said, adding firearms and explosives were also recovered from their possession.

All the convicts "admitted offenses before the magistrates and the trial courts," the army said. Endit