ISLAMABAD: Following a special relaxation granted by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Asim Munir, 20 individuals convicted for their involvement in the events of May 9 and 10 have been discharged from the custody of the Pakistan Army.
The Attorney General for Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan, has submitted a report to the Supreme Court concerning the release of these 20 individuals who were sentenced to one year of imprisonment by the military.
The army chief authorized the release of these convicted individuals ahead of Eidul Fitr. They were set free on April 6 and 7. The group comprises eight individuals from Rawalpindi, three from Lahore, five from Gujranwala, three from Dir, and one from Mardan.
On December 23, 2023, the Supreme Court had permitted the military court to recommence trials, subsequently issuing sentences in cases warranting lesser punishment.
Earlier, the attorney general had informed the Supreme Court that individuals sentenced to one year of imprisonment or less could avail relevant legal provisions, while those facing longer sentences would necessitate relaxation from the competent authority. The discharged convicts had been in custody for varying periods, up to 10.5 months.
In response to the court’s inquiry, the AGP had reported that the army currently holds custody of 105 accused, two more than the previous count of 103 provided earlier. Consequently, the bench had requested a comprehensive list of all 105 accused.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
