Pakistan hands death penalty to six militants behind Peshawar school attack

Pakistan's army on Thursday announced the death penalty for six militants linked to an assault on a school in the northwestern city of Peshawar that killed 151 people, mainly students, in the country's deadliest terror attack.


The men were convicted by military courts established in the wake of the December 16 siege last year, while a seventh man was handed a life sentence.

The army said the militants "were given a fair trial" in military courts before the verdict was handed down.

"Today the sentences of death have been confirmed by the Chief of Army Staff," a statement issued on the military's website said, adding they had a right to appeal.

The statement listed the convicts by name and carried a brief description of how each had carried out various tasks such as collecting funds, transporting or harbouring suicide bombers for the attack.

Their trial took place behind closed doors, with no information on where or when they were held or how proceedings unfolded.

The six handed the death penalty are not the seven who took part in the attack -- all of whom died in the assault.

Controversial courts

The attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar led to widespread outrage, with officials announcing a slew of measures aimed at combating terror.

The government lifted a six-year moratorium on executions and amended its constitution to allow military courts to try terror suspects.

Despite previously having specific anti-terror courts, cases dragged on for many years and many suspects escaped punishment due to legal loopholes or lack of witnesses, who often failed to appear out of fear of reprisals from militant groups.

In February, military spokesman Asim Bajwa said the army took 12 Taliban members into custody in connection with the school attack, adding that 27 conspirators were involved in total.

Pakistan has been battling a homegrown Islamist insurgency for over a decade following its decision to side with the US-led coalition against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Peshawar, which is close to the Afghan border, has seen some of the worst of the violence during the Taliban insurgency in recent years.

The Taliban said the Peshawar attack was retaliation for the army's continuing operation against militants in the tribal areas.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)