In a significant development, the military courts have awarded prison terms to 60 more civilians with two to ten years for taking part in the violent riots of May 9, reported a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations on Thursday.
Following that, the earlier conviction of 25 civilians brought the total number of convicted to 85. The proceedings took place under military law, as the Supreme Court had granted a conditional go-ahead for these trials.
Among the key convictions, Hassan Khan Niazi, nephew of PTI founder Imran Khan, has been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. The ISPR emphasized that all accused were provided with due legal rights, and the trials adhered to constitutional standards, including the right to appeal.
The violent events of 9th May broke out after the brief detention of Imran Khan, and there were demonstrations against military installations: the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence and other state-owned assets. This rioting caused damage of an estimated Rs 2.5 billion, in which the military assets affected were estimated at Rs 1.98 billion.
The military’s attempt to try civilians has been largely criticized. Legal experts and political leaders have questioned the fairness of these trials by citing a lack of transparency and procedural irregularities. The opposition leaders have sought the judiciary to regain civilian cases, and that through the constitution, there’s a guarantee of fair hearing.
Despite this furor, the government and armed forces defended that such trials were indispensable for law enforcement and for the protection of further attacks on the state. Appeals from convicts are still awaited and the Supreme Court’s decision will be able to declare the future way of such proceedings in Pakistan.
The May 9 riots remind the nation of how the country still grapples with the issue of finding a balance between civil liberties and law enforcement.
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