The Pakistan military announced on Thursday the remission of sentences for 19 individuals convicted for their involvement in the May 9, 2023, riots that swept across the country.
The announcement comes after military courts sentenced 85 civilians to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for their roles in what the military described as “violent attacks” on its installations last month. Among those convicted was Hassaan Khan Niazi, the nephew of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The May 9 unrest, triggered by Imran Khan’s arrest, included high-profile incidents such as assaults on the Jinnah House in Lahore and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi among multiple other high-profile military sites.
In a statement issued by the army’s media wing – the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) -, the military said the decision to remit the sentences was made on “humanitarian grounds”, emphasizing a balance between justice and compassion.
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“A total of 67 convicts filed mercy petitions. Forty-eight petitions have been processed to Courts of Appeal, while petitions of 19 convicts have been accepted purely on humanitarian grounds, in accordance with the law,” the ISPR statement read.
The ISPR added that the remaining mercy petitions would be decided in due course following the legal process.
List of convicts granted remission
- Muhammad Ayaz
- Sami Ullah
- Laeeq Ahmed
- Amjad Ali
- Yasir Nawaz
- Said Alam
- Zahid Khan
- Muhammad Suleman
- Hamza Sharif
- Muhammad Salman
- Asher Butt
- Muhammad Waqas
- Sufayan Idrees
- Muneeb Ahmed
- Muhammad Ahmed
- Muhammad Nawaz
- Muhammad Ali
- Muhammad Bilawal
- Muhammad Ilyas
The convicts will be released after the completion of procedural formalities, the statement added.
“All those convicted retain the right of appeal and other legal remedies as per the law and the constitution,” the ISPR said.
The military also framed the sentence remissions as a reflection of the principles of fairness and due process. “The remission of punishments is a testament to the strength of the due process and fairness, which ensures that justice is served while also taking into account the principles of compassion and mercy,” the statement said.
This is the second instance of sentence remissions linked to the May 9 incidents. In April 2024, 20 convicts were released, also on "humanitarian grounds”.
