Islamabad: The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Thursday that 19 workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) convicted in the May 9 cases by a military court have been granted pardon.
The individuals had been sentenced to up to 10 years for their involvement in the attack on the Corps Commander House, commonly referred to as the Jinnah House, during the violent protests following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in May 2023.
According to the ISPR, a total of 67 convicted individuals filed petitions for mercy. Of these, 48 were forwarded to the Court of Appeal for further review, while 19 were accepted on humanitarian grounds. The remaining appeals will be processed in accordance with the law.
The 19 individuals pardoned include Muhammad Ayaz, Samiullah, Laiq Ahmed, Amjad Ali, Yasir Nawaz, Saeed Alam, Zahid Khan, Muhammad Suleman, and Hamza Sharif. Also pardoned were Muhammad Salman, Ashar Butt, Muhammad Waqas, Sufyan Idrees, Munib Ahmed, Muhammad Ahmed, Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Bilawal, and Muhammad Ilyas.
“All those convicted retain the right of appeal and other legal remedies as per the law and the constitution,” the ISPR stated, emphasizing that the decision reflects a balance between justice and the principles of compassion and mercy.
The ISPR noted that the remission of punishments highlights the robustness of Pakistan’s legal process, ensuring fairness while considering humanitarian grounds.
On December 21, military courts had sentenced 25 individuals involved in the May 9 riots for attacks on state installations, vandalism, and violence during the protests. These incidents were among the most significant episodes of unrest in the country’s recent history.
The pardon underscores the military’s commitment to upholding justice while exercising compassion, ensuring due process under the framework of law and the constitution.
