Two LeJ men to be hanged in Multan tomorrow

MULTAN: Two more convicts belonging to the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi will be hanged in Multan Central Jail on January 7.
The anti-terrorism courts have issued black warrants for Ahmed Ali alias Shishnag and Ghulam Shabbir alias Doctor. The convicts belonged to the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi top ranks and had participated in the Afghan jihad. They became sectarian killers after the withdrawal of Russian troops from Afghanistan. Both the convicts were involved in the murder of policemen and had been awarded death by the anti-terrorism courts. The apex courts upheld their conviction and their mercy appeals were rejected by President Mamnoon Hussain.
Ahmed Ali alias Shishnag, a resident of Shorkot, was a close aide to LeJ founder Riaz Basra and Malik Ishaq and among the pioneers of the banned outfit. He had killed Altaf Hussain who was sitting in his shop on Railway Road in March 1998. Passers-by Nasir and Jamil were also killed in the firing. The Bohar Gate had registered the case on the complaint of the deceased’s brother Mujahid Hussain in January 1998. The Shorkot police had registered the first murder case against him under sections 109, 34 and 302 of the PPC. The murder and terrorism cases were also registered against him by Multan, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang and Shorkot police stations. He was convicted first time in February 2000. Multan ATC-II Judge Muhammad Sajjad has issued his black warrants.
Shabbir Ahmed alias Doctor belongs to the Arian family of Chak No 21/8-R Tulumba, Khanewal. He is known as doctor because he ran a clinic in his village. Some clerics of his village played a key role in turning him into a terrorist and fomenting hatred against another sect.
Cases against him were registered by the police stations of Multan and Lahore from 1997-99. He was convicted in the murder of policemen performing duty at Gulistan Chowk in 1999 and the case (754/98) was registered against him by the New Multan police on October 22, 1998. He was 22 at the time of his arrest in 1998.
He was awarded death in 2002. The Supreme Court rejected his review petition in 2009 and his mercy appeal was pending with President Mamnoon Hussain. Multan ATC-I Judge Javed Iqbal Warraich has issued his black warrants.