A Pakistani military court has sentenced 25 civilians to terms of two to 10 years of “rigorous imprisonment” for their involvement in attacks on military facilities during nationwide unrest in 2023, the military’s media wing announced on Saturday.
The sentencing has intensified concerns among supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who fear that military courts may increasingly be used to prosecute cases involving the 72-year-old leader. Khan faces multiple charges, including allegations of inciting violence against the armed forces.
The convictions stem from protests on May 9, 2023, when thousands of Khan’s supporters stormed military installations and set fire to a general’s house following his arrest by paramilitary troops. The unrest resulted in at least eight deaths.
The military’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) office described the sentences as an “important milestone in the dispensation of justice to the nation.” In a statement, the ISPR cautioned against being “exploited by vested interests” or falling victim to “political propaganda and intoxicating lies.” It warned that no one should take the law into their own hands.
While some individuals linked to the violence are being tried in anti-terrorism courts, the military emphasized that true justice will only be served once “the masterminds and planners” of the attacks face punishment in accordance with the Constitution and the law.
The ruling follows Khan’s recent indictment by an anti-terrorism court on charges of inciting attacks against the military. Meanwhile, a military investigation has been launched into Faiz Hamid, a former army general and ex-spy chief who served under Khan, on similar allegations.
Last week, Pakistan’s Supreme Court allowed military courts to announce verdicts in cases involving nearly 85 civilians accused of attacking military installations. However, the court stipulated that these rulings would depend on the outcome of appeals challenging the jurisdiction of military courts over civilians. The military courts were provisionally granted jurisdiction over civilians in a controversial ruling last year.
