COAS grants special relief to 20 convicts of May 9 riots

RAWALPINDI: In wake of Eidul Fitr, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Asim Munir has accorded special dispensation to 20 convicts who were implicated in the May 9 riots cases.

These individuals, previously held under the custody of the Pakistan Army, have been granted an early release.

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Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Usman Awan has duly furnished a comprehensive report to the Supreme Court concerning the release of these 20 individuals, all of whom were handed down a one-year imprisonment sentence by the military court.

This decision by the COAS facilitated their release just before the onset of Eidul Fitr, with the convicts regaining their freedom on April 6 and 7.

The beneficiaries of this special relaxation hail from various regions, comprising eight from Rawalpindi, three from Lahore, five from Gujranwala, three from Dir, and one from Mardan.

The legal backdrop to this development traces back to December 23, 2023, when a bench presided over by Justice Aminuddin Khan at the Supreme Court authorised military courts to recommence trials, consequently leading to convictions with lesser penalties.

Prior to this, the Attorney General had informed the apex court that individuals sentenced to imprisonment for a year or less could potentially avail themselves of pertinent legal provisions. However, those facing lengthier sentences necessitated relaxation from the competent authority.

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It’s worth noting that the released convicts had been in custody for varying durations, with some detained for over ten months.

In response to the court’s query, the AGP clarified that the army currently detains 105 accused, two more than the previous count provided earlier. In light of this, the bench has requested a comprehensive list detailing all 105 accused individuals.