PAKISTAN-MASSACRE/SENTENCE Pakistan military court sentences 6 to death in school massacre

Record ID: 144140

  • Title: PAKISTAN-MASSACRE/SENTENCE Pakistan military court sentences 6 to death in school massacre
  • Date: 14th August 2015
  • Summary: PESHAWAR , PAKISTAN (FILE- DECEMBER 16, 2014) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) AMBULANCE SPEEDING PAST ARMY JEEPS AND AMBULANCE PASSING BY VARIOUS OF SOLDIER MOTIONING SCHOOL BOYS TO CROSS ROAD VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS ON THE ROAD (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) UNIDENTIFIED STUDENT SAYING: "As soon as the firing started, our teacher made us sit in a corner and told us to lower our heads. After around an hour, when the firing subsided a little, army personnel came and rescued us. When we came out we saw in the corridors, our friends who had been shot three or four times, some dead and some injured. Their blood had spilt all over the place." TRUCK DRIVING PAST A DISTRAUGHT MOTHER ARRIVING VARIOUS OF AMBULANCE SPEEDING AWAY PESHAWAR , PAKISTAN (FILE- DECEMBER 18, 2014) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF ARMY PUBLIC SCHOOL INVESTIGATORS COLLECTING EVIDENCE/ SOLDIER STANDING GUARD ARMY PERSONNEL STANDING AT THE END OF THE MAIN HALL OF SCHOOL
  • Embargoed: 29th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAE5QGJV1MCF9V65GRATEXX83GS
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
    EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: QUALITY AS INCOMING
    A secret military court in Pakistan sentenced six men to death after convicting them of involvement in the Taliban massacre of 134 children at an army-run school in Peshawar, the military said on Thursday (August 13).
    The sentences are the first known convictions for the December massacre in the northwestern city after parliament in January approved military courts to try accused militants. The government argued civilians were afraid to convict them.
    The six defendants - civilians convicted of aiding six gunmen who attacked the army school - confessed before the court, according to a statement from the military's press wing.
    "The convicts were given fair trial by following all the legal formalities and offering/providing them legal aid and defence councils," the statement said.
    "Today, the sentences of death have been confirmed by the Chief of Army Staff," it said, adding that the condemned had the right to a hearing before a court of appeals.
    Following a legal challenge on parliament's decision in January, Pakistan's Supreme Court ruled last week that closed military courts are legal and can pass death sentences on civilians, a judgment that critics say further strengthens the military's grip on power at the expense of civilian authorities.
    The December school attack is seen as having hardened Pakistan's resolve to fight jihadist militants along its lawless border with Afghanistan.
    Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation of 190 million, is plagued by a Taliban insurgency, sectarian violence and militancy.
    Since January, military courts have heard at least 100 militants' cases, the law ministry said in June. However, little information has been released on the identity of any suspects or convicts, charges or evidence against them.
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