The clemency petitions of 19 convicts involved in the May 9 cases have been accepted on humanitarian grounds, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced in a statement on Thursday.
This development comes less than a month after military courts sentenced a total of 85 civilians involved in the riots of May 9, 2023. On December 21, military courts sentenced 25 civilians to prison terms ranging from between two and 10 years for the events of May 9. A week later, another 60 civilians were sentenced to prison terms of between two and ten years for their role in the nationwide unrest.
“After the promulgation of sentences for those convicted of the May 9 tragedy, they have exercised their right to appeal and have asked for clemency/remission of their sentences,” the statement said.
“A total of 67 convicts have submitted their petitions for clemency,” he said, adding that 48 petitions have been processed before the Courts of Appeal, while the petitions of 19 convicts have been accepted “on purely humanitarian grounds, in accordance with the law.” .
“Petitions for mercy to remain in the country will be decided in due course, following the legal process,” he said.
Those whose sentence has been remitted include:
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Muhammad Ayaz s/o Sahibzada Khan — was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Main Gate FC Cantt Peshawar incident
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Sami Ullah s/o Meer dad Khan — was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Bannu Cantt incident
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Laeeq Ahmed s/o Manzoor Ahmed — was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the ISI office incident in Faisalabad.
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Amjad Ali s/o Manzoor Ahmed — was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the ISI office incident in Faisalabad.
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Yasir Nawaz, s/o Ameer Nawaz Khan, was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Punjab Regimental Center Mardan incident.
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Said Alam s/o Maaz Ullah Khan, was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Punjab Regimental Center Mardan incident.
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Zahid Khan, s/o Muhammad Nabi, was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Mardan PRC incident.
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Muhammad Suleman s/o Said Ghani Jan — was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Dir Scouts Timergara HQ incident
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Hamza Sharif, s/o Muhammad Azam, was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the ISI office incident in Faisalabad.
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Muhammad Salman, s/o Zahid Nisar, was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the ISI office incident in Faisalabad.
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Asher Butt, s/o Muhammad Arshad Butt, was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Rahwali Gate Gujranwala incident.
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Muhammad Waqas, s/o Malik Muhammad Khalil, was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Rahwali Gate Gujranwala incident.
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Sufayan Idrees s/o Idrees Ahmed — was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Rahwali Gate Gujranwala incident
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Muneeb Ahmed s/o Naveed Ahmed Butt — was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Rahwali Gate Gujranwala incident
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Muhammad Ahmed, s/o Muhammad Nazir, was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Rahwali Gate Gujranwala incident.
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Muhammad Nawaz s/o Abdul Samad — was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Rahwali Gate Gujranwala incident.
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Muhammad Ali, s/o Muhammad Boota, was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the ISI office incident in Faisalabad.
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Muhammad Bilawal s/o Manzoor Hussain, was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Jinnah House incident.
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Muhammad Ilyas s/o Muhammad Fazal Haleem — was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Dir Scouts Timergara HQ incident
“All of them will be released after [the] compliance with procedural procedures.
“All convicted persons retain the right to appeal and other legal remedies in accordance with the law and the Constitution.”
The ISPR added: “The remission of sentences is a testament to the strength of due process and fairness, ensuring that justice is done while taking into account the principles of compassion and mercy.”
In April 2024, 20 people convicted of the May 9 riots – who had been imprisoned and had served most of their sentences – were also pardoned on humanitarian grounds after the army chief remitted their sentences.
the riots
On May 9, 2023, violent protests broke out across the country following the brief arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan. At least 10 people were killed and hundreds injured, while approximately 40 public buildings and military installations were damaged.
These included the Lahore Corps Commander’s House (Jinnah House) and Askari Tower in Lahore, the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Office in Faisalabad, the FC Fort in Chakdara, the of Radio Pakistan in Peshawar, the Swat Expressway Toll Plaza and the PAF Mianwali base.
In total, 62 outbreaks of violence were documented, causing a loss of Rs 2.5 billion to the country, of which, according to the State, Rs 1.98 billion was suffered by the army. The army says that the events were a coordinated attack by the PTI leadership.
In its widely praised verdict, a five-member court on October 13, 2023 unanimously declared the military trials of 103 civilians null and void.
The supreme court had declared that the accused would not be tried by military courts but by criminal courts of competent jurisdiction established under the common or special law of the country.
However, on December 13, 2023, in a 5-1 majority verdict, the SC conditionally stayed its own October 23 ruling (albeit by a different court) pending a final ruling while hearing a series of appeals. intrajudicial (ICA).
In March 2024, a six-member SC bench had also conditionally allowed military courts to pronounce reserved verdicts in the cases. He had also amended his December 13 court order, ordering that military courts could begin trials but would not convict or acquit any suspects pending government-instituted ICAs.
