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Pak army chief signs death warrants for six militants awaiting execution

by IBNS 19 Dec 2014, 12:26 am

Islamabad, Dec 19 (JEN): Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on Thursday signed death warrants for six militants on death row after the government ended a moratorium on capital punishment in terror-related cases, media reports said.

Pakistan military spokesman Major General Asim Bajwa tweeted: “COAS today signed death warrants of 6 hardcore terrorists (pending execution) convicted by FGCM in accordance with law.” But it is not clear when the executions will be carried out.

Earlier, the six militants convicted by a military court and were awaiting execution.

Senior security officials, however, said that the six would be hanged “within days”.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday announced an end to the moratorium on the death penalty in terror-related cases, sources said.

The announcement was made following the deadliest Pakistani-Taliban massacre at a military-run school in the northwestern city of Peshawar that killed as many as 148 people, mostly children.