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May 9 riots: Military pardons 19 convicts on humanitarian grounds

News Desk

Jan 02

The military has pardoned 19 convicts in the May 9 riots case on humanitarian grounds, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.

 

According to the military media wing, a total of 67 convicts had filed mercy petitions, of which 48 have been processed for appeal. The pleas of 19 convicts have been accepted “purely on humanitarian grounds under the law”.

 

The development comes weeks after military courts sentenced a total of 85 people in connection with attacks on state establishments following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in May 2023.

 

At least 10 people lost their lives and over a hundred others sustained injuries in the violent protests that continued on May 9 and May 10. Approximately 40 public buildings and military installations were attacked by rioters. These included Lahore Corps Commander’s House (Jinnah House), Askari Tower in Lahore, General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, ISI Office in Faisalabad, FC Fort in Chakdara, Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar, Toll Plaza at Swat Motorway and the Mianwali Air Base.

 

In December, the ISPR had in two separate statements announced the convictions of 25 and 60 under-trial prisoners by military courts. The convicts had been sentenced to jail terms ranging from two to 10 years for their involvement in the nationwide riots. PTI founder and former prime minister Khan’s nephew, Hassaan Khan Niazi, was also among the convicts and was sentenced to 10 years in jail for the attack on the residence of Lahore Corps Commander (Jinnah House).

 

On Thursday, the military’s media wing said that 19 individuals whose mercy petitions were accepted would be released after completion of procedural formalities.

 

“The remission of punishments is a testament to the strength of due process and fairness, which ensures that justice is served while also taking into account the principles of compassion and mercy,” it added.

 

Among the freed convicts are:

1. Muhammad Ayaz s/o Sahibzada Khan

2. Sami Ullah s/o Meer dad Khan

3. Laeeq Ahmed s/o Manzoor Ahmed

4. Amjad Ali s/o Manzoor Ahmed

5. Yasir Nawaz s/o Ameer Nawaz Khan

6. Said Alam s/o Maaz Ullah Khan

7. Zahid Khan s/o Muhammad Nabi

8. Muhammad Suleman s/o Said Ghani Jan

9. Hamza Sharif s/o Muhammad Azam

10. Muhammad Salman s/o Zahid Nisar

11. Asher Butt s/o Muhammad Arshad Butt

12. Muhammad Waqas s/o Malik Muhammad Khalil

13. Sufayan Idrees s/o Idrees Ahmed

14. Muneeb Ahmed s/o Naveed Ahmed Butt

15. Muhammad Ahmed s/o Muhammad Nazir

16. Muhammad Nawaz s/o Abdul Samad

17. Muhammad Ali s/o Muhammad Boota

18. Muhammad Bilawal s/o Manzoor Hussain

19. Muhammad Ilyas s/o Muhammad Fazal Haleem

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