25 May 9 suspects receive sentences from military courts: ISPR

Military courts have sentenced 25 individuals involved in the May 9 riots, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Saturday.

The suspects were accused of attacking state installations and engaging in violence and vandalism during protest after the arrest of the former prime minister Imran Khan in 2023. 

According to the ISPR, Jan Muhammad Khan, Muhammad Imran Mehboob, Raja Ehsan, Abdul Hadi, Ali Shan, and Dawood Khan, who were involved in the Jinnah House attack, were each sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Additionally, Faheem Haider and Muhammad Hasher, also implicated in the Jinnah House attack, were sentenced to 6 years in prison each, while Muhammad Ashiq received a 4-year sentence.

Rehmatullah, involved in the Punjab Regimental Center, Mardan attack, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, as was Yasir Nawaz for his role in the PAF Base Mianwali attack.

Anwar Khan and Babar Jamal, also involved in the Mianwali attack, were each sentenced to 10 years.

Umar Farooq, who took part in the GHQ attack, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Muhammad Afaq Khan, who participated in the Bannu Cantt attack, received a 9-year sentence, and Dawood Khan, involved in the Chakdara Fort attack, was sentenced to 7 years.

Zahid Khan, implicated in the Multan Cantt check post attack, was sentenced to 4 years, while Khurram Shahzad, also involved in the same attack, received a 3-year sentence.

The ISPR stated that the sentences for the remaining accused would be announced once their legal processes were completed.

The May 9 sentencing was viewed as a significant step toward justice, while several cases against other accused individuals were still pending in various anti-terrorism courts.

The ISPR also emphasised that May 9, 2023, marked tragic, politically motivated violence and arson, which it described as a 'dark chapter' in Pakistan's history.

These sentences were intended as a warning to those who might be swayed by political propaganda and urged them not to take the law into their own hands in the future.

The ISPR further stated that true justice would be achieved when the 'masterminds and planners' of the May 9 riots were punished in accordance with the constitution and the law.

The justice served on May 9, the ISPR added, would help end destructive politics based on violence and undermine hatred, division, and baseless propaganda.

The constitution and law also provided all convicted individuals with the right to appeal and seek other legal remedies.