Barrister Gohar says Imran Khan-founded party against trial of civilians in military courts
\n ISLAMABAD
\nAfter the military\u2019s Courts of Appeal granted clemency to more than a dozen convicts of the May 9, 2023, violent protests \u201con humanitarian grounds\u201d earlier today, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has said that pardoning 19 out of 67 inmates is \u201cnot a major progress\u201d.
\nTalking to journalists in Islamabad on Thursday, Gohar said that 48 out of 67 convicts had filed appeals against their sentences but only 19 were granted pardon.
\nThe Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced that the sentences of as many as 19 convicts have been pardoned \u201cpurely on humanitarian grounds\u201d after they appealed for mercy.
\nNoting that the remaining mercy petitions will be decided in due course of time, following the legal process, the military\u2019s media wing said that the 19 individuals, whose appeals have been accepted, shall be released after the completion of procedural formalities.
\nReferring to the release of 20 convicts on humanitarian grounds in April 2024, the statement underscored the \u201cstrength of the due process and fairness, which ensures that justice is served while also taking into account the principles of compassion and mercy\u201d.
\nThe military court had first punished 25 individuals and a few days later, handed down punishments to 60 people.
\nThe second batch of convicts also included incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan\u2019s nephew Hassan Khan Niazi, who faces 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for his role in the Jinnah House incident.
\nThe May 9 riots refer to the violent protests triggered by the arrest of the PTI founder in a corruption case in 2023.
\nThe protests saw attacks on public and military installations \u2014 including General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, Lahore corps commander house, also known as Jinnah House, and several others across the country.
\nCommenting on the development today, Gohar reiterated that the Imran Khan-founded party was against civilians\u2019 trial in military courts and the Supreme Court had also given its opinion in this regard.
\nIt is noteworthy to mention here that the military trials were initially halted after a top court\u2019s ruling; however, the constitutional bench directed that the cases pending due to the earlier order be finalised and judgments in the cases of those accused found involved in these violent incidents be announced.
\nTo a question related to the government-opposition talks, the PTI lawmaker in the National Assembly said that his party\u2019s committee would present its demands before the incumbent government.
\nHe stressed the need for political parties to sit together and come out with a conclusion from the talks for the broader interests of the nation.
\nThe government and the former ruling party kicked off the second round of crucial dialogue today amid the latter\u2019s January 31 deadline for the result-oriented talks.
\nThe meeting held in the Parliament House\u2019s Constitution Committee Room, with National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in chair.
\nIn its meeting with the government team, the PTI\u2019s negotiating team had decided to pursue two initial demands \u2014 the release of under-trial political prisoners and the formation of a judicial commission to probe the events of May 9, 2023, and late-night crackdown on protesters on November 26.
\nAfter months of heightened political tensions, the embattled former ruling party and the government finally held their first round of dialogue last month.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Barrister Gohar says Imran Khan-founded party against trial of civilians in military courts ISLAMABAD After the military\u2019s Courts of Appeal granted clemency to more than a dozen convicts of the May 9, 2023, violent protests \u201con humanitarian grounds\u201d earlier today, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has said that pardoning 19 out of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":453136,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-453116","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n