Three convicted hijackers executed, four others hanged in various jails

HYDERABAD: Three men convicted of hijacking an airplane in May 1998 were executed early morning Thursday.

Shahsawar Baloch and Sabir Baloch were hanged in Central Jail Hyderabad, while Shabbir Baloch was executed in Central Jail Karachi.

Mercy pleas filed by the three had already been rejected by the president.

The three men had hijacked Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight 544 enroute from Turbat to Karachi, just four days before Pakistan’s nuclear tests in May 1998.

However, the Pakistan Army as well as law enforcement agencies thwarted the hijackers’ attempt and arrested all three culprits.

Meanwhile, another four prisoners on death row were executed early morning today in Sahiwal, Haripur, Sargodha and Karachi jails.