The High Court of Islamabad ordered the immediate release of more than 120 PTI workers on Thursday who were arrested after the November 26 demonstration.
A bench of two judges, including the acting chief judge, Sarfaraz Dogar and judge Muhammad Asif, were released on bail to the detainees.
The court ordered them to submit an affidavit in their respective police stations, undertaking not to engage in actions similar to the future.
The hearing has seen a legal representation of Ali Bukhari, Babar Awan and Murtaza Tori, who pleaded for the release of prisoners.
The court set a deposit at RS20,000, forcing each individual to submit a deposit.
PTI workers were arrested as part of the demonstrations held on November 26, 2024, which led to a repression of the government.
Last month, Mercy petitions submitted by 19 people sentenced to their involvement in the May 9 demonstrations were approved, the inter-service public relations (ISPR) announced in a press release.
“The continuation of the promulgation of sanctions to the condemned of tragedy of May 9, they exercised their right to appeal and asked for mercy / remission in their sanctions,” said the military’s media wing.
The ISPR also declared that a total of 67 convicted had submitted petitions of mercy, 48 of these petitions treated during the courts of appeal. He added that the petitions of 19 convicted had been accepted “only for humanitarian reasons, in accordance with the law”.
“They will all be released after the completion of procedural formalities,” said the press release.
The press release also mentioned that the petitions of mercy of the remaining condemned people would be decided in due course, following the legal process. He stressed that all convicted persons retain their right to appeal and to pursue other legal appeals in accordance with the law and the Constitution.
“The remission of the sanctions testifies to the strength of the regular procedure and equity, which guarantees that justice is rendered while taking into account the principles of compassion and mercy,” concluded the ISPR.
The following individuals had their sanctions put back:
- Muhammad Ayaz, son of Sahibzada Khan
- Sami Ullah, son of Meer Dad Khan
- Laeeq Ahmed, son of Manzoor Ahmed
- Amjad Ali, son of Manzoor Ahmed
- Yasir Nawaz, son of Ameer Nawaz Khan
- Said Alam, son of Maaz Ullah Khan
- Zahid Khan, son of Muhammad Nabi
- Muhammad Suleman, son of Said Ghani Jan
- Hamza Sharif, son of Muhammad Azam
- Muhammad Salman, son of Zahid Nisar
- Asher Butt, son of Muhammad Arshad Butt
- Muhammad Waqas, son of Malik Muhammad Khalil
- Sofayan Idrees, son of Idrees Ahmed
- Muneeb Ahmed, son of Naveed Ahmed Butt
- Muhammad Ahmed, son of Muhammad Nazir
- Muhammad Nawaz, son of Abdul Samad
- Muhammad Ali, son of Muhammad Boota
- Muhammad Bilawal, son of Manzoor Hussain
- Muhammad Ilyas, son of Muhammad Fazal Haleem
In December 2024, military courts sentenced 60 more civilians to prison terms for their roles in violent attacks against military facilities during national riots on May 9, 2023.
The sentences occur only a few days after the ISPR announced that 25 civilians had received prison terms for their involvement in the same events.
The individuals were convicted of their involvement in violent attacks against the main military and government facilities, including the Maison du Corps Commander in Lahore, the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, the ISI Office in Faisalabad, and Bann Cantt, between Others, the ISPR indicated.
