COAS confirms death sentence to five hardcore terrorists

RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has confirmed the death sentence awarded to five hardcore terrorists who perpetrated the Safoora Chowrangi bus attack and were also involved in the improvised explosive device (IED) blast near Saleh Masjid Karachi, the killing of social activist Sabeen Mahmud and attacks on law enforcement agencies.

According to the ISPR, these convicts were tried by the military courts.

Details of the cases are as under;

Tahir Hussain Minhas s/o Khadim Hussain Minhas (convict no1), Saad Aziz s/o Abdul Aziz Sheikh (convict no2), Asadur Rehman s/o Atiqur Rehman (convict no3), Hafiz Nasir s/o Afzal Ahmed (convict no4) and Muhammad Azhar Ishrat s/o Ishrat Rasheed Ahmed (convict no5). These five convicts were active members of al-Qaeda.

They were involved in attacking a bus of Ismaili community at Safora Chowrangi Karachi which resulted in death and injuries to the passengers. They were also involved in attack on Saleh Masjid Karachi, killing of a social worker Sabeen Mahmud and attacking law enforcement agencies.

The convicts admitted their offences before the trial court. Convict no1 was tried on nine charges convict no2 was tried on 10 charges. Convict no3 was tried on four charges and convict no4 and 5 were tried on five charges and all were awarded death sentences.