146 May 9 accused released by courts
Two years have passed since the protests on May 9 and 10, 2023 that had erupted in response to the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.
However, 58 individuals accused in connection with the violent vandalism remain absconding and have yet to appear before the courts.
According to official sources within the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government, the Prosecution Department has released detailed records of the cases currently being heard in Peshawar's Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs) related to the May 9 and 10 events.
The prosecution's data reveals that 42 accused had been discharged by the courts while 146 individuals had been acquitted due to lack of evidence. Cases against 276 accused remain under trial in various ATCs.
The accused are facing charges at multiple police stations including Landi Kotal, Jamrud, Ghalanai, East Peshawar, Faqirabad, Khan Raziq, Hayatabad, and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Peshawar. Some of these cases continue to be heard in ATCs.
The ATCs have officially declared the 58 individuals evading arrest as absconders and issued non-bailable arrest warrants against them.
It is worth noting that widespread protests had broken out across the province, particularly in Peshawar, Mohmand, and Khyber, following Imran Khan's arrest.
Several incidents involved attacks on public and private properties. Consequently, hundreds of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers, including many current members of the provincial assembly, were named in these cases.
According to sources, despite the passage of two years, authorities are yet to apprehend the 58 fugitives and their arrest warrants remain active.
Last year in December, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had stated that attacks on military installations would be tried in military courts and urged the PTI to refrain from politicising or disputing the matter.
During a press conference in Islamabad, he criticised the PTI for using military courts as a political tool, aiming to create a controversy around them.
He clarified that military courts only handled cases involving attacks on the defence establishment, citing incidents such as the attacks on the Corps Commander's House, Mardan, and Bala Hisar.
"When an attack is carried out on a defence institution or its property is set ablaze, it becomes the responsibility of the relevant authorities to apprehend the culprits. Just as railway police handle crimes on railway premises, military courts address offences targeting military assets. So when attacks on military assets occur, the Military Act is enforced", he explained.
While highlighting the PTI's shifting stance, he recalled that during Imran Khan's tenure, military court trials were praised. "Statements praising military courts from the PTI's leadership are still available on social media. Yet now, the same individuals are lobbying internationally against these courts," Tarar remarked.
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