ISLAMABAD — A secret military court in Pakistan sentenced six men to death after convicting them of involvement in the Taliban massacre of 134 children at an army-run school in Peshawar, the military said on Thursday. The sentences are the first known convictions for the December massacre in the northwestern city after parliament in January approved military courts to try accused militants. The government argued civilians were afraid to convict them. The six defendants — civilians convicted of aiding six gunmen who attacked the army school — confessed before the court, according to a statement from the military's press wing. “The convicts were given fair trial by following all the legal formalities and offering/providing them legal aid and defense councils,” the statement said. “Today, the sentences of death have been confirmed by the Chief of Army Staff,” it said, adding that the condemned had the right to a hearing before a court of appeals. — Reuters
