Bombay Durpun - Pakistan military courts convict 25 of pro-Khan unrest

Ex-prime minister Khan was arrested in May 2023 after being ousted from office and mounting an unprecedented campaign of defiance against the nation's powerful military leaders.

His detention over graft allegations sparked nationwide unrest, some targeting armed forces installations, and prompting rare prosecutions of civilians in military courts.

Amnesty International called the move "an intimidation tactic, designed to crack down on dissent".

Military courts are largely opaque, but after months of confidentiality the military public relations wing named 25 people who have been prosecuted.

All of the convicted are men and 14 have been sentenced to a decade of "rigorous imprisonment", with the remaining 11 set to serve lesser prison terms.

A military statement did not make clear what crime each person had been convicted of, listing only the location of their offence.

It said during the May 2023 unrest Pakistan "witnessed tragic incidents of politically provoked violence and arson at multiple places".

"These blatant acts of violence not only shocked the nation but also underscored necessity of checking this unacceptable attempt of political terrorism."

Former cricket star Khan served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, when he was ousted by parliament in a no confidence vote.

He blamed the then-head of the powerful military establishment for his downfall. Pakistan's generals are considered the country's political kingmakers and have directly ruled the nation for decades at a time.

Khan's May 2023 detention lasted a matter of days but he was re-arrested three months later and has remained imprisoned since, facing a parade of court cases he claims are politically motivated.

Meanwhile his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party was targeted by a sweeping crackdown following the unrest, with thousands of grassroots supporters and senior officials arrested.

The 72-year-old was barred from running in February elections, which were marred by rigging allegations.

PTI defied the crackdown to win more seats than any other party, but a coalition of parties considered more pliable to military influence formed a government and shut them out of power.

Last month, fresh protests and unrest gripped the capital Islamabad as thousands of PTI supporters attempted to occupy a public square on the doorstep of parliament before retreating.

E.Narula--BD