Three Militants to face Death in Pakistan
Pakistan Times Staff Report

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court sentenced three members of an outlawed Islamic group to death on Tuesday, finding them guilty of killing at least six minority Shi’ite Muslims, lawyers said. The convicts belong to the extremists Lashkar-e-Jhangvi group, which has ties with the former Taleban regime in Afghanistan and al-Qaeda-linked militants.

They were convicted in five separate terrorism cases, including the killing of a Shi’ite Muslim cleric in May-2001. They also killed a Shi’ite Muslim doctor and a businessman the same year, state prosecutor Mazhar Qayum said.

Defence Lawyer opts for Appeal

Defence lawyer M.R. Saeed said his clients were innocent. ‘We are going to appeal against the verdict,’ he said. Police blame Lashkar-e-Jhangvi for much of the sectarian bloodletting in the restive port city of Karachi as well as several high profile attacks targeting government officials and Western interests.

In recent months, police arrested several key militants belonging to the group. But police said the Jhangvi network had managed to activate new cells.

At least 70 people died in Karachi alone since early May, mostly in religious attacks.

150 Put in Cage

And in Lahore, police have arrested over 150 foreigners, mostly Afghans and Arabs and some African religious students, for living in Pakistan illegally, police and security officials said on Tuesday.

The arrests were made during a week-long operation in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province and the arrested men are being interrogated at different detention facilities, said Tariq Saleem, DIG police.

He would not say whether the suspects had any links with terror groups. ‘I am not in a position to say anything about it at this stage,’ he said. Thousands of young Muslims come to Pakistan to study Islam. A small number become involved in militant activity.

Saleem said the raids were carried out by police in major cities in the province, including Lahore, the provincial capital, after authorities received reports that some foreigners were involved in ‘criminal activities.’●