‘Will come out again for Imran Khan,’ pardoned May 9 convict says

A pardoned May 9 rioter has said that he would once again take to streets whenever jailed former prime minister (PM) Imran Khan or leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) asked for it.

“On May 9 [2023], Imran Khan was arrested [and] our leadership told us to hold a peaceful protest,” said Said Alam, who was pardoned days after a military court sentenced him to two years in prison over his involvement in the May 9 riots.

He accused authorities of forcing him to claim that Khan’s speeches had “brainwashed” him, but said that he refused to comply. “I was also told to record a statement against my MPA and MNA [for inciting violence], which too I declined.”

“I have spent 20 months in jail […] my sacrifices are nothing as compared to those who lost their lives while protesting on May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024,” he said, alleging that his only crime was being a supporter of Khan.

To a question about the conditions in which May 9 rioters were kept, Alam said that they had not subjected to physical violence. However, he added, they sure went through mental agony.

“We [under-trial prisoners and convicts] were not allowed to meet anyone in jail. We were kept isolated,” Alam said, adding that they were allowed to read the newspaper and use a mobile phone.

When asked about the mercy petitions that led to the release of 19 rioters soon after a total of 85 were convicted by a military court, he said they were filed at the time of their transfer to civilian jails. “We were told to confess to our actions in mercy petitions.”

It merits a mention that hundreds were arrested following nationwide violent protests led by the PTI following PTI founder Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9, 2023.

At least 10 people lost their lives, and over a hundred others sustained injuries in the protests that continued on May 9 and May 10. Around 40 public buildings and military installations were attacked by the rioters. 

Alam’s interview comes hours after his release from jail. He was among the 85 rioters who have so far been convicted by a military court in connection with attacks on military establishments.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a total of 67 convicts had filed mercy petitions, of which 48 were processed for appeal. Of the 48, 19 were pardoned on humanitarian grounds.