The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday suspended the sentences of 10 individuals find guilty in connection with the May 9 riots.
A bench consisting of Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani and Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan ordered the convicts to submit bail bonds of Rs 25,000 each. These individuals had earlier been sentenced by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on November 22 to a total of five years and 10 months in prison for apparently attacking police and setting a checkpoint on fire in Faizabad.
The IHC highlighted that none of the convicts had been arrested at the crime scene and coached the deputy registrar to verify their nationality, as five of them are reportedly Afghan nationals. The prosecution opposed the decision, citing CCTV footage and other evidence presented during the trial, but the IHC granted bail and ordered the convicts to attend future hearings.
In a related development, military courts pardoned 19 individuals involved in the May 9 riots after they filed mercy petitions. The ISPR reported that these individuals were among 67 who sought clemency, with 48 cases forwarded for legal review. The pardons were granted on humanitarian grounds, in line with the law.
The May 9, 2023, riots erupted following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, sparking violent protests across the country. PTI supporters targeted key locations, including the Corps Commander’s house in Lahore. Imran Khan remains the main accused in all cases related to the disorder.
