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Thursday March 28, 2024

TTP Punjab operative gets death sentence

Attacks on Ahmadis

By Numan Wahab
January 18, 2015
LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Saturday awarded death sentence on seven counts to an operative of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Punjab and life imprisonment to his accomplice on the charges of attacking two Ahmadi worship places in 2010, which claimed 99 lives.
The court awarded death sentence to Muaz alias Muaviya along with life imprisonment on two counts. The co-convict, Abdullah, received life imprisonment on nine counts. The court also imposed a fine of Rs3 million each on both convicts. In case of default, they will face further jail term.
Death sentence has been awarded to Muaz on three counts under Section 7-A of Anti Terrorism Act, on three counts under Section-302 of Pakistan Penal Code and on one count under Section-3 of Explosive Substances Act, 1908.
The court awarded life imprisonment to Abdullah under the abovementioned laws as he could not be executed due to his juvenile status at the time of incident.
As per case details, the TTP terrorists on May 28, 2010, simultaneously barged into two worship places of Ahmadis - Darul Zikr Garhi Shahu and Bait-al Noor Model Town - in Lahore. Six terrorists stormed Darul Zikr using firearms and hand grenades. The assault at Model Town involved three attackers who carried out the terror hit in a similar fashion.
All the six attackers at Garhi Shahu were killed in an operation conducted by the security agencies. However, they managed to kill 73 Ahmadis before that. In Model Town, where 27 Ahmadis were murdered, police gun downed a terrorist and arrested two - Muaz and Abdullah.
Muaz had tried to explode his suicide vest but failed. He was severely injured and was shifted to Jinnah Hospital. But the terrorists kept on their series of savage acts as six gunmen attacked the hospital’s intensive care unit on the morning of June 1, 2010 with a motive to rescue or eliminate Muaz.
At least six people, including four policemen - three constables and a sub-inspector - along with a security guard and citizen were killed by the terrorists who fled the scene after an unsuccessful attempt to rescue Muaz.
Later, police registered a case 2006/10 against the two convicts. During the course of investigation, it was revealed that they were affiliated with the Punjabi Taliban. They are residents of Rahimyar Khan. Abdullah was 16 at the time he carried out the Model Town attack.