Military courts have sentenced 60 more civilians, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s nephew, Hassaan Khan Niazi, for their roles in the May 9 riots, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Thursday.
Niazi received a 10-year prison sentence for his involvement in the ransacking of the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence, also known as Jinnah House. Another notable convict, former PTI lawmaker Mian Abad Farooq, was handed a two-year rigorous imprisonment.
The ISPR statement detailed that the Field General Court Martial issued these sentences after reviewing all evidence, ensuring the convicts’ legal rights, and following due legal process. It added that all individuals sentenced by military courts have the right to appeal under the law.
This announcement follows the recent sentencing of 25 civilians for their involvement in the violent protests that erupted after Khan’s arrest in May last year. The riots saw attacks on state establishments, including military installations, across the country.
The ISPR emphasized that the May 9 incidents, marked by politically motivated violence and arson, represented a dark chapter in Pakistan’s history. It accused planners of orchestrating attacks on military installations and desecrating martyrs’ monuments.
The military’s media wing reiterated that justice would only be complete once the masterminds and planners of the May 9 violence are held accountable under the Constitution and laws of Pakistan. Additionally, many accused individuals are undergoing trials in anti-terrorism courts, with their cases proceeding according to the law.
While the PTI has called for a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, the ISPR stated that sentences for other accused individuals will be announced once legal proceedings are concluded.
