Pakistan’s military chief on Thursday approved the execution of five “hardcore terrorists” that the army said were involved in the killing of a prominent rights activist and a deadly bus attack claimed by Islamic State.
An army statement said the five were charged in a military court and admitted their guilt, though it did not specify what they were charged with.
Military chief General Raheel Sharif had confirmed the death sentences, it said.
The five “perpetrated” the attack on a bus in Karachi last May, in which gunmen stormed the vehicle and killed 45 members of the minority Ismaili community, the statement said.
The Islamic State group claimed the attack, though the military statement on Thursday described the five as “active” members of Al-Qaeda. No reason for the discrepancy was immediately given.
The five were also “involved” in the killing of rights activist Sabeen Mehmood as well as several other attacks, the statement said, without offering more details.
Mehmood was shot dead in the port city of Karachi in April last year minutes after hosting a seminar on abuses in restive Balochistan province.
The killing sent shockwaves through the country’s progressives, as those who speak out against alleged abuses by the state warned they were under increasing threat.
Months later, authorities revealed that the main suspect in the bus attack, Saad Aziz, had admitted to Mehmood’s murder also.
Aziz was among the five whose executions were confirmed on Thursday.
Pakistan reinstated the death penalty and established military courts as part of a crackdown after its deadliest ever extremist attack, when gunmen stormed a school in the northwest in 2014 leaving more than 150 people dead.
Rights activists have criticised a surge in hangings since the moratorium was lifted, with Pakistan becoming the world’s third most prolific executioner in 2015, and complained the military trials are neither transparent nor fair.
Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in northwest of London, in July 2024. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Crossbow murderer found guilty of raping ex-girlfriend
A 26-YEAR-OLD man who murdered three women in a crossbow and stabbing attack has been found guilty of raping one of them, his ex-girlfriend, a British court ruled on Thursday.
Kyle Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in Bushey, northwest of London, in July 2024.
The attack led to a manhunt before Clifford was found injured hours later in a north London cemetery.
A jury at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday convicted Clifford of raping 25-year-old Louise Hunt before killing her.
His sentencing for all the crimes is scheduled for Tuesday.
Clifford had admitted to murdering Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Louise and Hannah, 28. He had also pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment and possessing offensive weapons but denied raping Louise.
During the trial, the court heard that after killing Carol Hunt, Clifford waited for an hour before attacking Louise, tying her up, raping her, and then killing her with a crossbow. He later killed Hannah when she returned home from work.
The prosecution described Clifford, a former soldier, as committing a "violent, sexual act of spite" and said he was "enraged" after Louise ended their 18-month relationship. They told the court that he had "carefully planned" the attack.
Less than 24 hours before the killings, Clifford had searched for a podcast by social media influencer Andrew Tate, according to the prosecution. They argued that the murders were driven by the "violent misogyny promoted" by Tate.
Justice Joel Bennathan called Clifford’s crimes "dreadful" and "almost unspeakable".
(With inputs from AFP)