commandos had taken their positions. The SSG stormed the plane, penetrating it from the front and the back doors of the aircraft. The Deputy Commissioner of Police had said Allah ho Akbar (God is great) simultaneously, when the SSG had stormed the plane. Shocked by the slogan, one of the hijackers tried to shoot the deputy commissioner but missed, and the hijacker mistakenly fired at one of his accomplices. The operation lasted less than two minutes. All three hijackers were arrested by the SSG and rushed to Karachi where they were handed over to the Pakistan Police. Investigation The hijackers were said to be carrying small weapons - pistols or revolvers, although they showed some packets which they claimed were high intensity explosives. The interrogations revealed that the Baloch hijackers were opposed to nuclear testing in their native Balochistan province following the recent Indian nuclear testing. It was later revealed that hijackers had demanded refueling to proceed to New Delhi. During the siege, the Corps Commander of V Corps, Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and IG police were at the airport. Aftermath The Sindh Governor Lieutenant-General (retired) Moinuddin Haider remained in touch with the authorities throughout the siege. The following week, he honored the Sindh police officers with highest honors and gallantry awards. The hijackers were convicted under 402-B (hijacking code defined in Pakistani law) in 1998 and were given the death penalty in 1999. All hijackers were hanged on 28 May 2015, after 17 years to the day when Pakistan had successfully conducted their nuclear tests in Chaghi, Balochistan. Pakistan Police Senior Superintendent of Police Akhtar Gorchani (Now additional Inspector General (D\AIG)). Assistant Superintendent of Police Dr. Usman Anwar (Now SSP, awarded Quaid-e-Azam Police Medal for gallantry for this episode later) Civil officers Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sohail Shah (disguised himself as DC Rajasthan) (decorated by citizens of Hyderabad). Accolades Major Aamir (now Colonel) (decorated with Tamgha-e-Basalat, Army gallantry award) Major Tariq Ahmad Anees (now Colonel) (decorated with Sitara-e-Jurrat, Army gallantry award) References Accidents and incidents involving the Fokker F27 Terrorist incidents in Pakistan in 1998 Hostage taking in Pakistan Aircraft hijackings in Pakistan Aviation accidents and incidents in 1998 544 Aircraft hijackings Operations involving Pakistani special forces Insurgency in Balochistan May 1998 events in Asia