Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=08/20/05

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PAKISTAN/EXECUTION (L-Only)

NUMBER=2-326664

BYLINE=AYAZ GUL

DATELINE=ISLAMABAD

CONTENT=

HEADLINE: Pakistani Soldier Hanged for Plot to Kill President Musharraf

INTRO: Authorities in Pakistan say a soldier convicted of plotting to assassinate President Pervez Musharraf was hanged on Saturday. From VOA's Islamabad bureau, Ayaz Gul reports.

TEXT: Pakistani officials say the soldier, identified as Islam Siddiqui, was executed in the central city of Multan, and his body was handed over to his family.

He was one of several soldiers and Islamic militants Pakistani authorities have detained for taking part in two back-to-back failed attempts to assassinate President Musharraf in December 2003.

Last year, a military court found Mr. Siddiqui guilty of involvement in the attacks, and sentenced him to death. At least 16 people, most of them members of the president's security guard, were killed and several others were injured in one of the attempts. Mr. Musharraf survived on both occasions.

Officials blame the al-Qaida terror network for planning the attacks, with the help of domestic militants and supporters in the Pakistani military and air force.

President Musharraf has become a prime target for Islamic militants since making Pakistan an ally of the United States in its war on terror, following the September 11th, 2001, attacks on American cities. Since then, he has escaped at least three known attempts on his life.

The Pakistani president has recently intensified a government crackdown on Islamic seminaries, locally known as Madrassas, across the country that are allegedly involved in promoting religious extremism. The policy is part of efforts to eliminate extremist and terrorist forces. There are more than 12-thousand Islamic seminaries, and President Musharraf has ordered all of them to register with the government by December 31st, or face closure. He also has ordered foreigners studying in these institutions to leave Pakistan by the end of the year. (SIGNED)

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