RAWALPINDI: The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday announced that the sentences of 19 convicts have been commuted following clemency appeals.
The Army’s media wing added that a total of 67 criminals have filed mercy petitions, of which 48 have been processed in the appellate courts, while the pleas of 19 criminals have been accepted on purely humanitarian grounds, as per the law. have gone
Noting that the remaining mercy petitions will be decided in due course after due process, the ISPR said that 19 persons, whose appeals have been accepted, have been released after completion of the procedure. will be given.
Referring to the release of 20 criminals on humanitarian grounds in April 2024, the statement emphasized “the power of due process and justice, which ensures that justice is delivered as well as the principles of compassion and mercy.” should also be taken into account”.
Providing legal technical details, legal expert Muneeb Farooq gEO News That mercy appeals are filed before the Army Chief.
Those who were pardoned – all of whom were sentenced to two years’ rigorous imprisonment – are among those sentenced on December 21 and December 26, 2024. A military court had first convicted 25 people and a few days later, sentenced 60 people.
The second batch of convicts includes Hasan Khan Niazi, nephew of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, who is facing a 10-year rigorous imprisonment for his role in the Jinnah House incident.
Forgive the criminals.
- Muhammad Ayaz son of Sahibzada Khan involved in Main Gate FC Cantt Peshawar incident was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labor.
- Samiullah, son of Mir Dad Khan, involved in Bannu Kent incident, was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labor.
- Laiq Ahmed son of Manzoor Ahmed involved in ISI Office Faisalabad incident was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labor.
- Amjad Ali son of Manzoor Ahmed involved in ISI Office Faisalabad incident was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labor.
- Yasir Nawaz son of Amir Nawaz Khan involved in Punjab Regimental Center Mardan incident was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labor.
- Syed Alam son of Muazullah Khan involved in the Punjab Regimental Center Mardan incident was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labor.
- Zahid Khan son of Mohammad Nabi involved in PRC Mardan incident was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labor.
- Mohammad Sulaiman, son of Syed Ghani Jan, involved in the HQ Dir Scouts Tamergarh incident, was sentenced to 2 years in prison with hard labor.
- Hamza Sharif son of Mohammad Azam involved in ISI Office Faisalabad incident was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labor.
- Mohammad Salman, son of Zahid Nisar, involved in the ISI Office Faisalabad incident, was sentenced to 2 years in prison with hard labor.
- Asher Butt, son of Muhammad Arshad Butt, involved in the Rahwali Gate Gujranwala incident, was sentenced to 2 years in prison with hard labor.
- Muhammad Waqas, son of Malik Muhammad Khalil, involved in the Rahwali Gate Gujranwala incident, was sentenced to 2 years in prison with hard labor.
- Sufyan Idris, son of Idris Ahmed, involved in the Rahwali Gate Gujranwala incident, was sentenced to 2 years in prison with hard labor.
- Muneeb Ahmed, son of Naveed Ahmed Butt, involved in Rahwali Gate Gujranwala incident, was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labor.
- Muhammad Ahmad, son of Muhammad Nazir, involved in the Rahwali Gate Gujranwala incident, was sentenced to 2 years in prison with hard labor.
- Muhammad Nawaz, son of Abdul Samad, involved in the Rahwali Gate Gujranwala incident, was sentenced to 2 years in prison with hard labor.
- Muhammad Ali son of Muhammad Buta, involved in the ISI Office Faisalabad incident, was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labor.
- Muhammad Bilawal son of Manzoor Hussain involved in Jinnah House incident was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labor.
- Muhammad Ilyas, son of Muhammad Fazl Halim, involved in the HQ Dir Scouts Tamergarh incident, was sentenced to 2 years in prison with hard labor.
The May 9 riots refer to the violent protests that erupted last year following the arrest of PTI’s founder in a corruption case.
The protests led to attacks on public and military installations—including the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, the Lahore Corps Commander’s House, also known as Jinnah House, and several other locations across the country.
Military trials were initially put on hold after the Supreme Court’s ruling. However, the constitution bench had last month directed that the cases pending due to the earlier order be finalized and the verdicts of the accused involved in the violent incidents be announced.
The party founded by Khan, distancing itself from the violent protests, has not only called for a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 events but has called the trial of civilians “a flagrant violation”. It has also announced to challenge the sentences of military courts. of justice”
The sentences handed down by the military court have guaranteed a reaction from the United States as well as the European Union, both of which have expressed concern over the development.
While the European Union called the verdicts inconsistent with the obligations Pakistan has undertaken under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and called for the verdicts to be made public, Washington said the military court ” Lacks judicial independence, transparency and due process.”