ISLAMABAD – The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement on Thursday announced that the mercy petitions of 19 convicts involved in the May 9 case have been accepted on humanitarian grounds.
Less than a month ago, military courts sentenced a total of 85 civilians involved in the May 9, 2023, riots. years in prison. A week later, 60 more civilians were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 2 to 10 years for their role in nationwide unrest.
“Following the promulgation of the sentences for the convicts in the May 9 massacre, they have exercised their right to appeal and requested clemency/reduction of sentences,” the statement said.
“A total of 67 convicts have filed clemency petitions,” the statement said, adding that 48 petitions have been processed by the Court of Appeal, while the petitions of 19 convicts have been accepted “purely on humanitarian grounds and in accordance with the law.”
“The remaining clemency petitions will be decided in due course in accordance with legal procedures,” the statement read.
Those exempted from punishment include:
- Muhammad Ayaz s/o Sahibzada Khan — sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Main Gate FC Cantt Peshawar incident
- Sami Ullah s/o Meer Dad Khan — sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for his role in the Banukant incident
- Laeeq Ahmed s/o Manzoor Ahmed — sentenced to two years in prison for his role in the ISI Faisalabad incident.
- Amjad Ali s/o Manzoor Ahmed — sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for his role in the ISI Faisalabad incident
- Yasir Nawaz s/o Ameer Nawaz Khan has been sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement in the Mardan incident at the Punjab Regimental Center.
- Said Alam s/o Maaz Ullah Khan has been sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement in the Mardan incident at Punjab Regiment Centre.
- Zahid Khan s/o Muhammad Nabi — Sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement in the Mardan incident in the People's Republic of China.
- Muhammad Suleman s/o Said Ghani Jan — Sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the HQ Dir Scouts Timergara incident
- Hamza Sharif s/o Muhammad Azam — sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the ISI Faisalabad incident
- Muhammad Salman s/o Zahid Nisar — sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for his role in the ISI Faisalabad incident
- Asher Butt s/o Muhammad Arshad Butt — sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Lakhvali Gate incident in Gujranwala
- Muhammad Waqas s/o Malik Muhammad Khalil — sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Rahwali Gate Gujranwala incident
- Sufayan Idrees s/o Idrees Ahmed — sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Rahwali Gate Gujranwala incident
- Muneeb Ahmed s/o Naveed Ahmed Butt — sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Rahwali Gate Gujranwala incident
- Mohammad Ahmed s/o Mohammad Nazir – sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Lakhwali Gate Gujranwala incident
- Muhammad Nawaz s/o Abdul Samad — sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Lakhvali Gate incident in Gujranwala
- Muhammad Ali s/o Muhammad Butta — sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the ISI Faisalabad incident
- Muhammad Bilawal s/o Manzoor Hussain — Sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the Jinnah House incident.
- Muhammad Ilyas s/o Muhammad Fazal Haleem — sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the HQ Dir Scouts Timergara incident
“They will all be released later [the] Complete the program formalities.
“All persons convicted retain the right to appeal and other legal remedies under the law and the Constitution.”
The ISPR added: “The mitigation of punishment is a testament to the power of due process and fairness to ensure that justice is done while also 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 of Staff commuted their sentences.
Lawyer Gohar reiterates PTI's stance on military trials
Replying to a question on the development, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the army's decision “is not a development”.
“PTI's position has not changed,” he said while talking to reporters today.
“No civilian should be tried before a military court. It remains unconstitutional and the matter will be decided by the Supreme Court.
Gohar called the pardon a “good thing” but said, “Conviction by a military court should not be a shame. This should be a civilian court.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur told reporters after the second round of meeting with the Indian government in Islamabad today that the development is a good step.
He added that most of the sentence has been passed and if there is still one or two months left, releasing the convict is a good step.
“The state is like a mother, nurturing them instead of shooting them and making them martyred.”
riot
Violent protests broke out across the country after PTI founder Imran Khan was briefly arrested on May 9, 2023. At least 10 people were killed, hundreds were injured, and about 40 public buildings and military installations were damaged.
These include Jinnah House, the official residence of the Corps Commander (Jinnah House) and Askarita in Lahore, the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) office in Faisalabad, Chak FC Fort in Daraa, Radio Pakistan Building in Peshawar, Toll Plaza in Rawalpindi.
A total of 62 outbreaks of violence were recorded, costing the country Rs 2.5 billion, of which the army suffered losses of Rs 1.98 billion, according to the state. The military said the incidents were a coordinated attack by the PTI leadership.
On October 13, 2023, in their widely acclaimed ruling, five judges unanimously declared the military trials of 103 civilians a mistrial.
The Supreme Court declared that the accused would not be tried before a military court but before a criminal court with jurisdiction established under the common or special laws of the country.
However, on December 13, 2023, the Supreme Court, in a 5-1 majority ruling, conditionally stayed its own October 23 ruling (albeit by a different judge) pending a final judgment as it heard A series of intra-court appeals (ICA) were initiated.
In March 2024, a six-member Supreme Court bench also conditionally allowed the military court to reserve judgment in the case. It also modified a December 13 injunction ordering that military tribunals could begin trials but that no suspects would be convicted or acquitted pending an ICA set up by the government.
