Military courts pardon 19 convicts linked to May 9 incidents

RAWALPINDI: Military courts have accepted mercry peitions of 19 convicts involved in attacks on military instalations on May 9, 2023.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the during the case proceedings under trial at the military courts, the convicts had filed mercy petitions, while exercising their legal rights.

In total, 67 convicts had filed mercy petitions. Out of those, 48 petitions were sent for review in the “Courts of Appeal” for legal action. Today, the petitions of 19 convicts have been approved.

The pardon petition has been approved on purely humanitarian grounds in accordance with the law, the ISPR said, adding that the other mercy petitions filed will be considered and implemented within the prescribed period in accordance with the law as well.

The 19 people whose sentences have been pardoned are as follows:

1. Muhammad Ayaz son of Sahibzada Khan
2. Samiullah son of Mirdad Khan
3. Laiq Ahmed son of Manzoor Ahmed
4. Amjad Ali son of Manzoor Ahmed
5. Yasir Nawaz son of Amir Nawaz Khan
6. Syed Alam son of Muazullah Khan
7. Zahid Khan son of Muhammad Nabi
8. Muhammad Suleman son of Syed Ghani Jan
9. Hamza Sharif son of Muhammad Azam
10. Muhammad Salman son of Zahid Nisar
11. Ashhar Butt son of Muhammad Arshad Butt
12. Muhammad Waqas son of Malik Muhammad Khalil
13. Sufyan Idris son of Idris Ahmed
14. Munib Ahmed son of Naveed Ahmed Butt
15. Muhammad Ahmed son of Muhammad Nazir
16. Muhammad Nawaz son of Abdul Samad
17. Muhammad Ali son of Muhammad Boota
18. Muhammad Bilawal son of Manzoor Hussain
19. Muhammad Ilyas son of Muhammad Fazal Haleem

The accused will be released after the completion of the legal procedures.

All other accused also have the right to appeal and to exercise other legal rights as per the law and constitution, the ISPR said.

“The pardon of sentences is a testament to our fair legal process and the strength of justice. This system ensures the delivery of justice by keeping in mind the principles of compassion and mercy,” the statement added.

Earlier, in April 2024, an order was issued to release 20 criminals on humanitarian grounds as per the law as well.

Also read: May 9 cases: Military courts sentence Hassan Niazi, 59 more perpetrators