Pak anti-terror court awards easy sentence to Manawan attacker

Lahore, Oct. 20 (ANI): The man convicted for attacking a Police Training Academy in Manawan in March has been sentenced to only ten years in jail - far less than the maximum punishment allowed under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Hijratullah, who was arrested Hijratullah near a makeshift helipad at the Manawan police training centre on March 30 with grenades, daggers, a wireless device and an Afghan passport, was awarded this punishment by an anti-terrorism court on Monday, The Daily Times reports.

According to Article 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, "Whoever commits a terrorist act shall: (i) if such act has resulted in the death of any person be punished with death; and (ii) in any other case be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but may extend to life imprisonment, and shall also be liable to fine."

Hijratullah was also acquitted of charges in another attack on a police station on The Mall due to lack of evidence.

At least 26 people were killed and over 150 injured in the first siege of the Manawan training school.

Baitullah Mehsud, the late commander of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, had claimed responsibility for the attack. (ANI)