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ISLAMABAD. – The Pakistani army said three hardcore terrorists were executed yesterday in a prison in the country’s eastern Punjab province. The terrorists were involved in committing “heinous offences relating to terrorism, including attacks on Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies,” an army statement said. “These convicts were tried by military courts,” the statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations said.

They were hanged in a jail in Sahiwal, a main city in Punjab province. All convicts had admitted their offences before the trial courts.

Convicts said Zaman Khan and Muhammad Zeeshan belonged to the banned Harkat ul Jehad-e-Islami group and were also associated with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

Of total 161 awarded death sentence by military courts, 21 have been executed, the statement said. It was the second executions of the terrorists in a week. Five hardcore terrorists were executed in a prison in the country’s northwest on March 8.

The military courts were established for the speedy trial of the terrorists after the deadliest attack on an army public school in Peshawar in December 2014. Nearly 150 people, mostly students were killed in the Taliban claimed attack.

The two-year period of the courts expired in January this year and the government is now in the process to extend tenure of the courts. A bill has already been moved in the National Assembly (the lower house) to amend the constitution for this purpose. – Xinhua.