In a significant development, the mercy petitions of 19 convicts involved in the May 9 riots in Pakistan have been accepted on humanitarian grounds.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced that the convicts, who were sentenced to imprisonment for their role in the riots, will be released after completing procedural formalities.
The May 9 riots, which erupted across Pakistan in 2023, resulted in the loss of at least 10 lives and widespread damage to public and private property.
The riots were sparked by the brief arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan, and were characterized by violent protests and clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
The ISPR stated that the mercy petitions of the 19 convicts were accepted “purely on humanitarian grounds, under the law.” The decision is seen as a significant move towards reconciliation and healing in the aftermath of the riots.
The development comes after the Supreme Court of Pakistan conditionally allowed military courts to pronounce reserved verdicts in the cases related to the May 9 riots.
The court had earlier declared that the accused would not be tried in military courts but in criminal courts of competent jurisdiction established under the ordinary or special law of the land.
The release of the 19 convicts is expected to be seen as a positive step towards promoting national unity and reconciliation in Pakistan. However, it remains to be seen how the decision will be received by different segments of Pakistani society.
