Pakistan hangs four convicted of Taliban massacre at school

Pakistan executed four men on Wednesday for involvement in the massacre of 134 children at an army-run school inthe northwestern city of Peshawar last year, media and security sources said.

The hangings were the first executions of civilians convicted by Pakistan's military courts, which were set up after the massacre through a constitutional amendment.

The executions were confirmed by three security sources, two of whom are based in Kohat, where the men were hanged early in the morning at the city's civilian-run central jail.

Hazrat Ali, Mujeeb ur Rehman, Sabeel and Abdus Salam had been convicted on August 13, according to a military statement sent on that date. All were identified as members of the Toheedwal Jihad Group (TWG), a previously unheard of faction of the Pakistani Taliban.

Three others were also sentenced to death for involvement in the attack, according to the same military statement, but death warrants have not yet been issued for them.

All nine attackers were killed in the siege on Peshawar's Army Public School, which killed 151 people in total on December 16, 2014. It was the worst Taliban attack on Pakistani soil.

related articles
Key interfaith leader stabbed in Bangladesh

Key interfaith leader stabbed in Bangladesh

Pakistan: Christian TV station destroyed in suspected arson attack

Pakistan: Christian TV station destroyed in suspected arson attack

Pakistan: Christian brick kiln workers arrested and beaten by police
Pakistan: Christian brick kiln workers arrested and beaten by police

Pakistan: Christian brick kiln workers arrested and beaten by police

International body calls for repeal of 'cruel' blasphemy laws in Pakistan

International body calls for repeal of 'cruel' blasphemy laws in Pakistan

News
Conservatives urge incoming Archbishop to drop £100m slavery reparations
Conservatives urge incoming Archbishop to drop £100m slavery reparations

Should church funds be used for slavery reparations? A group of Conservative MPs and peers think not.

What if the Good Shepherd is closer than you think?
What if the Good Shepherd is closer than you think?

Pastoral care is not a task reserved for a handful of gifted individuals; it is the life of Christ, quietly at work inside ordinary believers.

Anglican Mainstream sees monthly growth despite web hosting suspension
Anglican Mainstream sees monthly growth despite web hosting suspension

Conservative Christian website, Anglican Mainstream, was surprised to see visitor numbers rise after being forced to relocate its website hosting after GoDaddy closed its account.

Missionary turned soldier in Ukraine balances faith with harsh frontline realities
Missionary turned soldier in Ukraine balances faith with harsh frontline realities

A former missionary who is now serving as a soldier in the Ukrainian army has spoken about the realities of faith for a man tasked with killing in defence of his country.