Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declared on Saturday that the series of events stemming from the May 9 riots will not end until those who orchestrated the violence are held accountable.
Reacting to military court rulings that convicted 25 people for their role in the May 9 incidents, Asif emphasized the need for speedy justice, citing examples from countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom.
“The delay in verdicts emboldened the accused and their enablers,” Asif said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. He also criticized the glorification of people involved in disrespecting martyrs and war heroes.
The Minister of Defense stressed that, although the perpetrators and participants on the ground have been arrested, the planners of the “dark day” remain outside the law.
He stressed that until measures are taken against these elements, encouraged by anti-state actors, the justice process will remain incomplete.
Military court sentences 25 people for May 9 riots: ISPR
Military courts have sentenced 25 civilians to prison terms of between two and 10 years for their role in violent attacks on military installations during nationwide unrest in May 2023, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday.
According to army media, the General Field Martial Court has sentenced 25 people in the first phase, following a thorough review of the evidence and completion of appropriate legal procedures.
“The convicted individuals were involved in attacks on key military sites including Jinnah House, General Headquarters (GHQ) and Pakistan Air Force Base in Mianwali,” he said.
Fourteen people received sentences of 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, while the others received shorter sentences, the statement said.
The ISPR statement also highlighted the importance of addressing such actions, calling them an “unacceptable attempt at political terrorism to impose [a] will perverted through violence and coercion.”
The military’s media wing further detailed the events of May 9, describing it as a “dark chapter” in Pakistan’s history, marked by politically provoked violence and arson in several places.
“Taking advantage of a sustained narrative of hate and lies,” the statement said, adding that “politically orchestrated attacks were carried out against armed forces facilities, including the desecration of Shuhada monuments.”
“These blatant acts of violence not only shocked the nation but also underlined the need to stop this unacceptable attempt by political terrorism to impose its own perverted will through violence and coercion,” the ISPR said.
The military’s media wing also condemned the actions as a direct attack on the country’s national security and stability.
Following the events of that “Black Day”, the military carried out detailed investigations and gathered irrefutable evidence to prosecute those involved. “Following the events of this ‘Black Day’, through meticulous investigations, irrefutable evidence was collected to legally prosecute the defendants involved in the tragedy,” the statement said.
Some of the cases were referred to the General Field Martial Court for trial, which proceeded according to legal procedures. Among those convicted were those involved in the attack on Jinnah House, the General Headquarters (GHQ) and several other military locations.
Describing the importance of the verdicts, the ISPR referred to the sentences as an “important milestone” in the delivery of justice to the nation. “It is also a stark reminder to all those who are exploited by vested interests and are victims of their political propaganda and intoxicating lies, to never take the law into their own hands in the future,” the statement concludes.
The details of the 25 convicted are as follows:
- Jan Muhammad Khan (Attack on Jinnah House) – 10 years in prison
- Muhammad Imran Mehboob (Attack on Jinnah House) – 10 years in prison
- Raja Muhammad Ehsan (GHQ attack) – 10 years in prison
- Rehmatullah (Attack on Mardan Center of the Punjab Regiment) – 10 years in prison
- Anwar Khan (Attack on PAF Mianwali base) – 10 years in prison
- Muhammad Afaq Khan (Bannu Cantonment Attack) – 9 years in prison
- Daud Khan (Attack on Chakdara Fort) – 7 years in prison
- Faheem Haider (Attack on Jinnah House) – 6 years in prison
- Zahid Khan (Attack on Multan Cantonment Checkpoint) – 4 years in prison
- Yasir Nawaz (Attack on Mardan Center of the Punjab Regiment) – 2 years in prison
- Abdul-Hadi (Attack on Jinnah House) – 10 years in prison
- Ali Shan (Attack on Jinnah House) – 10 years in prison
- Daud Khan (Attack on Jinnah House) – 10 years in prison
- Umar Farooq (GHQ attack) – 10 years in prison
- Babar Jamal (Attack on PAF Mianwali base) – 10 years in prison
- Muhammad Hashir Khan (Attack on Jinnah House) – 6 years in prison
- Muhammad Ashiq Khan (Attack on Jinnah House) – 4 years in prison
- Khurram Shehzad (Attack on Multan Cantonment Checkpoint) – 3 years in prison
- Muhammad Bilawal (Attack on Jinnah House) – 2 years in prison
- Saeed Alam (Attack on Mardan Center of the Punjab Regiment) – 2 years in prison
- Laiq Ahmad (Attack on ISI office in Faisalabad) – 2 years in prison
- Ali Iftikhar (Attack on Jinnah House) – 10 years in prison
- Zia Ur Rehman (Attack on Jinnah House) – 10 years in prison
- Adnan Ahmad (Attack on Mardan Center of the Punjab Regiment) – 10 years in prison
- shakir ullah (Attack on Mardan Center of the Punjab Regiment) – 10 years in prison
