Shrine bombers sentenced to death

Pakistan has seen numerous sectarian attacks

A Pakistani court has sentenced two men to death for bombing a Shia shrine last year which left 47 people dead.

Three others were jailed for life in connection with the bombing at a shrine in Fatehpur, 200 miles (350km) south of Quetta in Balochistan province.

Abdul Halim and Muhammad Aslam were preparing a home-made device in a mosque when they were arrested, the court found.

The authorities said the bombers belonged to a Sunni militant group.

Halim and Aslam were jailed for life for the Fatehpur attack but were given death sentences for a separate planned attack.

Inspector General of Police, Chaudhry Yaqub, claimed four of the men were members of Sipah-e-Sahaba, which was banned in 2002.

He said they had received training in Afghanistan and two of them had fought alongside the Taleban.

Judge Mohammed Ismail told the Associated Press: "They played a direct role in the bomb attack."

Thousands of people had gathered in the village of Fatehpur, in Sibi district, when the bomb exploded. Many people were enjoying a traditional feast in the shrine at the time.

A second bomb, also weighing 0.75kg, was found at the shrine and safely removed.

Pakistan has a history of violence between Shia and Sunni Muslims. Balochistan has also seen increased attacks by tribesmen fighting for more autonomy and a share of the province's gas wealth.

The BBC's Azizullah Khan in Quetta said the accused were arrested at a mosque in Osta Muhammad, a remote area of Balochistan.

Police said they recovered written material about how to make bombs and other literature about the group's motives.