Army chief signs death warrants of Amjad Sabri's killers, 8 others

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday ratified the death sentences awarded to 10 hardcore terrorists, including two convicts in the murder case of famed Qawwali singer Amjad Sabri.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said Gen Bajwa also endorsed life imprisonment handed down to five other terror convicts.

Two militants – Ishaq alias Bobby and Asim alias Capri – convicted of their involvement in the killing of Amjad Sabri were said to be affiliated with outlawed Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ).

Amjad Sabri was assassinated on June 22, 2016 in the month of Ramazan. He was travelling from his home to a television studio when armed motorbike riders pulled up beside his car and opened fire on him.

Other militants whose death warrants have been signed off by Gen Bajwa included Muhammad Arish Khan,  Muhammad Rafique, Habib Ur Rehman, Muhammad Fayyaz,  Ismail Shah, Fazal Muhammad, Hazrat Ali and Habib Ullah.

These convicts were tried by special military courts for their involvement in terrorism-related offences, including attacks on armed forces, the killing of innocent people and an attack on a private hotel in Peshawar, according to the ISPR.

Last year, President Mamnoon Hussain signed the 28th Amendment Bill 2017 extending the tenure of military courts for another two years.

Under this Act, the duration of the military courts has been extended for another two years, starting from January 7, 2017.