Islamabad: A Pakistani high court has temporarily lifted the prison sentences of 10 people connected to protests that turned violent on May 9, 2023. This unrest started after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, causing his supporters to become angry and vandalize military and civilian properties. Following the chaos, police arrested hundreds of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters and many were charged with various offenses.
An anti-terrorism court had sentenced the 10 convicted individuals to nearly six years in prison in November for attacking police and burning a checkpoint at Islamabad’s Faizabad Interchange. They appealed their convictions in the Islamabad High Court, where two judges, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, reviewed their case. After listening to arguments, the court decided to suspend their sentences and granted them bail, asking each to submit a surety bond of 25,000 Pakistani rupees.
The court noted that there was no evidence that the convicts were arrested at the protest site. While releasing them, the court ordered them to return for all future hearings as the legal process continues. The charges showed that five of the 10 convicted people were Afghan nationals, and the court instructed them to submit their original identity documents for verification.
The Pakistani government claimed that PTI was using Afghan refugees for protests, but PTI denied these accusations. In another development, PTI leaders turned down Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s proposal to restart stalled talks with the government to ease political tensions. Earlier discussions fell apart after opposition members left the talks, acting on instructions from Imran Khan.
PTI stated they would reconsider talks only if there were investigations into the events from May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, as well as the release of political prisoners. Recently, a court sentenced Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 14 and 7 years in prison, respectively, for corruption involving a trust fund. Khan claims all charges against him are politically driven
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