After months of deliberations over military court’s eligibility to try and sentence civilians, as many as 25 persons have been convicted and sentenced for their involvement in May 9, 2023, attacks on state installations.
Scores of PTI workers were arrested and more than 100 civilians are facing military trials for last year’s riots over the arrest of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.
“Field General Court Martial have in [the] first phase promulgated the punishments to 25 accused,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement released Saturday.
The statement from the military’s media wing comes as the party maintains it had no role in attacks on state installations, including the ransacking of the General Headquarters (GHQ).
While the PTI also demands a judicial commission to probe last year’s events, Saturday’s statement added that the promulgation of the sentences of remaining accused was also being done and will be announced shortly as and when the due process is complete.
“All convicts retain the right to appeal and other legal recourses, as guaranteed by the law and the Constitution,” the ISPR said.
It added that the nation on May 9 witnessed tragic incidents of politically provoked violence and arson at multiple places, marking a dark chapter in the history of Pakistan.
Building on a sustained narrative of hate and lies, the ISPR said, politically orchestrated attacks were carried out on the installations of the armed forces including the desecration of martyrs’ monuments.
“Many accused are also being tried in various Anti-Terrorism Courts and their cases are being pursued as per the law, however, justice would truly be fully served once the mastermind and planners of 9th May Tragedy are punished as per the Constitution and laws of the land,” the statement read.
“State of Pakistan will continue to vigoursly pursue dispensation of justice to ensure establishment of inviolable writ of the State, so as to uproot this evil of violence driven disruptive and destructive politics based on hate, divisiveness and baseless propaganda,” it concluded.
Details of convictions and sentences are as follows:
1. Jan Muhammad Khan: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.2. Muhammad Imran: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
3. Raja Muhammad Ehsan: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in GHQ attack incident.
4. Rehmat Ullah: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Punjab Regimental Centre Mardan incident.
5. Anwar Khan: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in PAF Base Mianwali incident.
6. Muhammad Afaq Khan: 9 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Bannu Cantt incident.
7. Daud Khan: 7 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Chakdara Fort incident.
8. Faheem Haider: 6 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
9. Zahid Khan: 4 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Multan Cantt Check Post incident.
10. Yasir Nawaz: 2 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Punjab Regimental Centre Mardan incident.
11. Abdul Hadi: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
12. Ali Shan: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
13. Daud Khan: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
14. Umar Farooq: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in GHQ attack incident.
15. Babar Jamal: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in PAF Base Mianwali incident.
16. Muhammad Hashir Khan: 6 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
17. Muhammad Ashiq Khan: 4 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
18. Khuram Shahzad: 3 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Multan Cantt Check Post incident.
19. Muhammad Bilawal: 2 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
20. Said Alam: 2 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Punjab Regimental Centre Mardan incident.
21. Laeeq Ahmed: 2 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in ISI Office Faisalabad incident.
22. Ali Iftikhar: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
23. Zia Ur Rehman: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
24. Adnan Ahmed: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Punjab Regimental Centre Mardan incident.
25. Shakir Ullah: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Punjab Regimental Centre Mardan incident.