Trial of Pakistani militants begin
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, June 30, IRNA -- Trial of Pakistani militants began on Tuesday in the insurgency-hit Swat valley in the country’s northwest, officials said.
A group of 29 Taliban militants were produced in an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Mingora, the main city in Swat valley under tight security.
This is the first time that militants were put on trial in Swat, where hundreds of people, including militants, soldiers, political activists and policemen have been killed as a result of military operation against the militants in 2009.
The army has cleared the area of the militants but they have now resorted to target killings of those who supported the military operation.
The ATC judge Asim Imam adjourned the trial of the militants till July 20th.
Three sons of Sufi Mohammed, leader of a pro-Taliban group were among those produced handcuffed in the court. There was no other high profile Taliban figure in the group of the under trial militants.
The government has charged the militants in terrorism, attacks on troops and war against the state for which they may face death sentence and different jail terms, legal experts said.
Police said that the militants were brought from three jails in northwest Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province.
Former Taliban spokesman in Swat, Muslim Khan, had also been arrested last year who will also face trial, officials say.
Khan and four other senior Taliban commanders were arrested in September last year.
Last month, the authorities expelled families of the militants from Swat after the militants failed to surrender.
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End News / IRNA / News Code 1203681
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