RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Thursday confirmed the death sentences of 12 ‘hardcore terrorists’ tried by military courts, said the military’s media wing in statement to the press.

The convicts were involved in “committing heinous offences relating to terrorism, including killing of civilians, attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan and Law Enforcement Agencies, destruction of schools and communication infrastructure,” read the statement.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) added that the convicts were tried by military courts.

Details of the convicts

• Muhammad Qayyum Bacha of Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) was involved in slaughter of officers and soldiers
• Muhammad Asif, Shahadat Hussain, and Yasin of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi were involved in attacking Law Enforcement Agencies which resulted in death of civilians
• Muhammad Tayyab of TTP was involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan which resulted in death of soldiers and civilians
• Said Akbar of TTP was involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan which resulted in injuries and death of soldiers
• Muhammad Ayaz of TTP was involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan which resulted in death of soldier
• Barkat Ali of TTP was involved in killing of civilian and was also in possession of fire arms and explosives
• Aziz-ur-Rehman of TTP was involved in attacking Law Enforcement Agencies which resulted in death of Police Constable
• Hussan Dar of TTP was involved in killing of civilian and attacking Law Enforcement Agencies which resulted in death of Police Constables
• Ishaq of TTP was involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan and Law Enforcement Agencies which resulted in death of a Junior Commissioned Officer and injuries to police constable
• Behram Sher of TTP was involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan as well as destruction of a Girls Primary School which resulted in injuries and death of soldiers

Establishment of military courts

Political parties had unanimously agreed over the issue of setting up military courts to tackle terrorism cases in the country following the gruesome attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar in December 2014, following which the Parliament passed the 21st constitutional amendment in Jan 2015 to set up the said courts.

President Mamnoon Hussain had also promulgated an ordinance further revising the recently amended Army Act to ostensibly aid the functioning of military courts by allowing for trials in camera, i.e without the presence of the public or the media, and over video link if necessary.

The Supreme Court in a majority ruling upheld the establishment of military courts in Pakistan.

Petitions challenging the 21st amendment were dismissed in August last year in a majority 11-6 vote of the 17-member SC bench.

In a 14-3 majority vote, petitions challenging the 18th amendment were also dismissed by the bench.

In its editorials, Dawn has criticised the establishment of military courts for “simply not being compatible with a constitutional democracy