The mercy petitions of 19 individuals convicted in connection with the May 9 riots have been accepted on humanitarian grounds, according to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday.
Following the sentencing of the May 9 tragedy convicts, they exercised their right to appeal and requested mercy or remission of their sentences, the statement explained.
Out of 67 petitions submitted, 48 have been forwarded to the Courts of Appeal, while the mercy petitions of 19 convicts have been approved “purely on humanitarian grounds, in accordance with the law.”
The remaining petitions will be decided in due course, the ISPR added.
The convicts whose sentences have been remitted are as follows:
- Muhammad Ayaz s/o Sahibzada Khan
- Sami Ullah s/o Meer dad Khan
- Laeeq Ahmed s/o Manzoor Ahmed
- Amjad Ali s/o Manzoor Ahmed
- Yasir Nawaz s/o Ameer Nawaz Khan
- Said Alam s/o Maaz Ullah Khan
- Zahid Khan s/o Muhammad Nabi
- Muhammad Suleman s/o Said Ghani Jan
- Hamza Sharif s/o Muhammad Azam
- Muhammad Salman s/o Zahid Nisar
- Asher Butt s/o Muhammad Arshad Butt
- Muhammad Waqas s/o Malik Muhammad Khalil
- Sufayan Idrees s/o Idrees Ahmed
- Muneeb Ahmed s/o Naveed Ahmed Butt
- Muhammad Ahmed s/o Muhammad Nazir
- Muhammad Nawaz s/o Abdul Samad
- Muhammad Ali s/o Muhammad Boota
- Muhammad Bilawal s/o Manzoor Hussain
- Muhammad Ilyas s/o Muhammad Fazal Haleem
The statement mentioned that those whose petitions have been accepted will be released once the necessary procedural formalities are completed.
“All convicted individuals retain the right to appeal and seek other legal remedies as provided by law and the constitution,” the ISPR noted.
The ISPR emphasized that the remission of sentences reflects the strength of due process and fairness, ensuring justice while considering compassion and mercy.
In December 2023, the ISPR revealed that 25 civilians were sentenced by military courts for their involvement in the May 9 events, and another 60 civilians were given prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for their role in violent attacks on military installations during the riots. In April 2024, 20 convicts were also released on humanitarian grounds in accordance with the law.
