国际英语新闻:Pakistani army chief confirms death sentences to 22 terrorists

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa Friday confirmed death sentences to 22 "hardcore terrorists" who were involved in offenses related to terrorism in the country, the military said.

"Today, (Friday) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) confirmed death sentence awarded to 22 hardcore terrorists, who were involved in heinous offences related to terrorism," an army statement said.

The statement from the army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations said the convicts were behind attacks on armed forces, law enforcement agencies of Pakistan, exploding of vehicle borne improvised explosive device to carry out sectarian killings, destruction of communication infrastructure, police check posts and educational institutions, and killing of innocent civilians.

On the whole, their terrorist activities resulted in death of 176 persons, including 19 armed forces personnel, 41 police officials and 116 civilians, while injuring 217 others. Arms and explosives were also recovered from their possession, the military said.

All these convicts belonged to proscribed organizations, which are blamed for violence in the country. They were tried by special military courts, who confessed their actions before the magistrates.

It is the third confirmation of death sentences to terrorists by the army chief in the past two weeks. Bajwa had also confirmed death sentences to 15 and 14 "hardcore terrorists" respectively on Dec. 16 and Dec. 21 over their involvement in terrorist activities.

The military courts were set up for a period of two years after the terrorist attack on an army school in December 2014 for the speedy trial of the terrorism-related accused. Nearly 150 people, including 132 children, were killed in the attack. In March 2017, the Pakistani parliament passed a special bill to grant two years extension of the courts.