Pak's new army chief confirms death sentences of 13 militants

Pakistan's new army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday confirmed the death sentences of 13 "hardcore" terrorists involved in the killing of 325 people in "heinous" attacks on civilians and security forces, his second such endorsement since taking command of the army last month.

These 13 convicts were tried by special military courts set up after the horrific terror attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar in 2014. The terrorists were involved in "heinous offences related to terrorism, including the killing and slaughtering of innocent civilians, officials of law enforcement agencies and the armed forces," the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a press release on a day when Pakistan marked the second anniversary of the terror attack on the Army Public School in which nearly 150 people - most of them children - were killedby Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan gunmen.

The ISPR statement said the suspected terrorists wereinvolved in the planning and execution of terror attacks onBacha Khan University, Parade Lane mosque, Marriott Hotel and World Vision NGO Office as well as an attack on an educational institution at Nawagai, Buner.

"On the whole, they were involved in killing 325 personsand in causing injuries to 366 others. Fire arms and explosives were also recovered from their possession. These convicts weretried by military courts," the statement said. On December 5, General Bajwa had confirmed the death sentences of four "hardcore" terrorists involved in scores of"heinous" attacks on civilians and security forces, his first such endorsement since taking command of the army last month.