Military courts have sentenced another 60 civilians to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for their involvement in violent attacks on military installations during nationwide riots on May 9, 2023, a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.
Today’s announcement comes less than a week after the ISPR announced that 25 civilians were handed prison terms by military courts over the May 9 events.
“Sequel to the announcement of the May 9 punishments in light of the Supreme Court’s decision, the Field General Court Martial has promulgated the punishments to the following remaining 60 culprits after examining all evidences, ensuring the provision of all legal rights to the convicts, completion of due process and the appropriate legal proceedings,” the ISPR said in a press release.
The statement added that the trials of those accused of the May 9 riots under military custody have been “concluded under the relevant laws”.
“All convicts retain the right to appeal and other legal recourses, as guaranteed by the Constitution and law,” the military said.
“The nation, government, and the armed forces remain steadfast in their commitment to upholding justice and ensuring that the inviolable writ of the state is maintained.”
The sentencing of a total of 85 civilians comes after the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench conditionally allowed military courts to pronounce the verdicts of the under-custody suspects in cases pertaining to the May 9 riots.
Following today’s announcement, persons who can be released after remissions can “be released forthwith and the persons who have to yet undergo the sentence awarded to them, their custody” will be handed over to the “concerned jail authorities”, as per the SC order.
The bench had ordered that the announcement of judgements would be subject to a final determination of the appeals before the SC, and without prejudice to the rights of those 85 accused persons.
Imran’s nephew Hassan Khan Niazi, who was handed into military custody in August last year, was among the two people sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, according to the list issued today.
