COAS General Asim Munir's special concession leads to release of 20 May 9 accused

As a gesture of goodwill before Eidul Fitr, 20 individuals who had been detained by the military in connection with the May 9th and 10th riots have been released.

These releases were reportedly authorized as a special concession by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir ahead of the Eidul Fitr.

Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan confirmed these releases in a report submitted to the Supreme Court on Monday.

According to the report, all 20 individuals had been sentenced to one year in prison with hard labor. They hailed from various regions, including eight from Rawalpindi, three from Lahore, five from Gujranwala, three from Dir, and one from Mardan.

What's notable is that none of these individuals had completed their sentences. Their release is attributed to a special concession granted by the Army Chief in anticipation of the upcoming Eid holiday.

The May 9th and 10th riots marked a turbulent period in Pakistan, sparked by the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. These violent demonstrations resulted in damage to government and military property.

The detentions and subsequent trials have sparked debate, with some raising questions about the legality of holding civilian suspects in military courts.