The interior ministry has recommended immediate hanging of 51 terrorists given death penalties by Anti-Terrorist Courts (ATCs).
This would demoralise the terrorists and suicide bombers, the ministry believed.
Sources said the ministry has made it clear that non-execution of ATC sentences led to rise in suicide attacks on top government functionaries in the recent past. A total of 79 terrorists were convicted by the ATCs and 51 of them were awarded death penalties. But the cases were pending in higher courts as those convicted filed appeals against the decisions of ATCs.
Sources said this was a fresh reminder to the government about execution of 51 terrorists given death penalties. The ministry had sent such recommendations earlier also to boost moral of law enforcement agencies and ATC personnel.
The interior ministry wanted the law ministry to work closely with higher courts to get these cases cleared so that execution of the convicted murderers could be carried out. Sources said so far 30 terrorist groups have been eliminated by the law enforcement agencies during crackdown against terrorists after a wave of violence struck the country particularly the cities of Karachi and Quetta.
During the investigation, law-enforcement agencies came to know that out of 30 active terrorist groups, 15 were exclusively working on sectarian front. While the remaining 15 were involved in attacking western interests and law enforcement agencies.
But, the ministry officials said,
the efforts of law enforcement agencies and ATCs were being wasted because
all cases of convictions were lying with the higher appellate courts for
final decision. They said under law higher courts are required to dispose
of these appeals within a period of 30 days.