Military Court Sentences 60 More for Role in May 9 Riots

Military Court

RAWALPINDI: A significant development has emerged from Pakistan’s military court system as 60 more individuals have been sentenced for their involvement in the May 9 riots. Among those sentenced is Hassan Khan Niazi, the nephew of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.

The military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), announced the verdicts on Thursday, revealing that the Field General Court Martial (FGCM) had reviewed the cases and granted sentences after ensuring that all legal rights were provided to the convicted individuals. The court also emphasized that these individuals have the right to appeal their sentences.

These convictions mark a critical moment in the aftermath of the May 9 riots, which saw widespread violence and attacks on military installations. The military court’s announcement highlighted that the convicts had been involved in multiple incidents across Pakistan, particularly in high-profile attacks on military facilities, including Jinnah House and various cantonment areas.

The list of those sentenced includes several individuals involved in prominent incidents during the riots. Among the convicts, Hassan Khan Niazi received a sentence of 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for his role in the Jinnah House incident. Other notable individuals sentenced include:

• Mian Abbad Farooq, two years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
• Raees Ahmed, six years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
• Arzam Junaid, six years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
• Ali Raza, six years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
• Raja Danish, four years rigorous imprisonment, involved in the GHQ attack.
• Syed Hassan Shah, nine years rigorous imprisonment, involved in GHQ attack.
• Ali Hussain, seven years rigorous imprisonment, involved in the AIMH Rawalpindi attack.
• Zahid Khan, two years rigorous imprisonment, involved in PRC Mardan incident.
• Sohrab Khan, four years rigorous imprisonment, involved in HQ Dir Scouts Timergara incident.
• Brig (retd) Javed Akram, six years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
• Khuram Liaqat, four years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Multan Cantt Checkpost incident.
• Zakir Hussain, seven years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Chakdara Fort incident.
• Ameen Shah, nine years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Bannu Cantt incident.
• Fahim Sajid, eight years rigorous imprisonment, involved in PAF Base Mianwali incident.
• Hamza Sharif, two years rigorous imprisonment, involved in ISI Office Faisalabad incident.

The sentence distribution includes various durations of rigorous imprisonment depending on the severity of each individual’s involvement in the riots. These include lesser sentences for participants in smaller-scale incidents and harsher punishments for those implicated in significant attacks on military facilities.

The ISPR further confirmed that the convicted individuals still have the right to appeal their sentences, and this process ensures that all legal standards and constitutional guarantees are met.

The convictions have sparked international concern, with the US, UK, and EU expressing their concerns over the fairness of military court trials for civilians. However, Pakistan’s Foreign Office defended the military courts, stating that the judgments were issued in accordance with Pakistani law and in alignment with the Supreme Court’s rulings.

In the aftermath of these convictions, Brigadier (retd) Waqar Hassan emphasized the need for justice against the “master planners” of the May 9 riots. He also noted that many of the rioters had reportedly received instructions from abroad, including the US and UK, to target military installations.

The full list of convicted individuals reflects a broad and diverse group, all facing rigorous sentences for their roles in the May 9 riots. The military court’s actions mark a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s ongoing struggle with political unrest and the fallout from the violence that took place in May 2023.

The complete list of individuals sentenced is as follows:

• Hassan Khan Niazi, 10 years rigorous imprisonment.
• Mian Abbad Farooq, two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Raees Ahmed, six years rigorous imprisonment.
• Arzam Junaid, six years rigorous imprisonment.
• Ali Raza, six years rigorous imprisonment.
• Raja Danish, four years rigorous imprisonment.
• Syed Hassan Shah, nine years rigorous imprisonment.
• Ali Hussain, seven years rigorous imprisonment.
• Zahid Khan, two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Sohrab Khan, four years rigorous imprisonment.
• Brig (retd) Javed Akram, six years rigorous imprisonment.
• Khuram Liaqat, four years rigorous imprisonment.
• Zakir Hussain, seven years rigorous imprisonment.
• Ameen Shah, nine years rigorous imprisonment.
• Fahim Sajid, eight years rigorous imprisonment.
• Hamza Sharif, two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Muhammad Arslan, seven years rigorous imprisonment.
• Muhammad Umair, six years rigorous imprisonment.
• Noman Shah, four years rigorous imprisonment.
• Ikram Ullah, nine years rigorous imprisonment.
• Muhammad Ahmed, two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Pirzada Mian Muhammad Ishaq Bhutta, three years rigorous imprisonment.
• Muhammad Abdullah, four years rigorous imprisonment.
• Amjad Ali, two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Muhammad Raheem, six years rigorous imprisonment.
• Ehsan Ullah Khan, 10 years rigorous imprisonment.
• Muneeb Ahmed, two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Muhammad Ali, two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Sami Ullah, two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Mian Muhammad Akram Usman, two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Mudassir Hafiz, six years rigorous imprisonment.
• Sajjad Ahmed, four years rigorous imprisonment.
• Khizar Hayat, nine years rigorous imprisonment.
• Muhammad Nawaz, two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Muhammad Bilal, four years rigorous imprisonment.
• Muhammad Suleman, two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Asad Ullah Durani, four years rigorous imprisonment.
• Ikram Ullah, four years rigorous imprisonment.
• Muhammad Farrukh, five years rigorous imprisonment.
• Waqas Ali, six years rigorous imprisonment.
• Ameer Zohaib, four years rigorous imprisonment.
• Farhad Khan, seven years rigorous imprisonment.
• Izzat Khan, two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Asher Butt, two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Saqlain Haider, nine years rigorous imprisonment.
• Muhammad Salman, two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Hamid Ali, three years rigorous imprisonment.
• Muhammad Waqas, two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Izzat Gul, nine years rigorous imprisonment.
• Haider Majeed, two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Gp Capt Viqas Ahmed Mohsin (Retd), two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Muhammad Ilyas, two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Muhammad Ayaz, two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Raees Ahmed, four years rigorous imprisonment.
• Gohar Rehman, seven years rigorous imprisonment.
• Naik Muhammad, nine years rigorous imprisonment.
• Fahad Imran, nine years rigorous imprisonment.
• Sufayan Idrees, two years rigorous imprisonment.
• Raheem Ullah, nine years rigorous imprisonment.
• Khalid Nawaz, nine years rigorous imprisonment.