ISLAMABAD: During the Supreme Court hearing on Monday, Pakistan’s Attorney General disclosed that over 20 suspects, who had been detained in military custody and were implicated in the May 9th riots, have been released.
Mansoor Usman Awan, serving as the Attorney General, presented a written response to the apex court detailing the developments. Among the disclosed information, it was revealed that eight individuals from Rawalpindi had been sentenced to one year of imprisonment each for their involvement in the riots.
The unrest stemmed from the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a corruption case, which led to protests erupting on May 9 and 10, resulting in vandalism of state buildings and military installations. In response, the government initiated a crackdown on the protesters, leading to numerous arrests. Subsequently, some suspects were tried in military courts.
In addition to the Rawalpindi convicts, three individuals from Lahore and five from Gujranwala were sentenced to a year of imprisonment each. Furthermore, suspects from various other regions, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mardan and Dir, were also among those released by the court. All of these individuals were released on April 6 and April 7, with none of them completing their sentences.
The Supreme Court had previously modified its injunction from December 13, allowing military authorities to release 15 to 20 individuals accused of involvement in the May 9 violence before Eidul Fitr. A five-judge bench directed the Attorney General to provide a list of individuals eligible for release, specifying those who had received lesser punishments or were convicted for up to three years.
The Attorney General confirmed that per the court’s instructions, approximately 15 to 20 individuals falling within the specified criteria could be released before Eid, subject to confirmation of their sentences by higher authorities, including the Chief of the Army Staff.
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