Military Courts sentenced 60 more people to rigorous imprisonment in May 9 cases on Thursday.

According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations, the list of people sent to prison also includes Hasaan Niazi, nephew of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.

The list of people given prison sentences have been charged with attacks on Corps Commander House in Lahore, GHQ in Rawalpindi, ISI office in Faisalabad, Bannu Cantt and others.

ISPR also said that proceedings have been completed against nine more accused in the May 9 cases. The statement also said that all those who have received sentences have the right to appeal as enshrined in the law of the land.

“The nation, the government and the armed forces are steadfast in their determination to uphold justice and the inviolable writ of the state,” ISPR added.

The rulings come less than a week after ISPR announced that 25 PTI workers have been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment in the May 9 cases.

However, the ISPR had added in its statement that justice in the May 9 cases would only be truly served when the ‘masterminds’ of the attack were punished.

The sentencings had led to strong statements from the United States, United Kingdom and European Union expressing concern over violation of inalienable legal rights afforded to everyone in the world.

In response, Pakistan’s Foreign Office had issued a statement saying it affirmed its international committments to human rights.

“Pakistan is fully committed to fulfilling all its international human rights obligations,” FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.

Violent protests had broken out across Pakistan minutes after Imran Khan was arrested by Rangers officials on May 9, 2022.

The protests led to attacks on several military installations, including the GHQ in Rawalpindi and Corps Commander House in Lahore.

Constitution, law followed in trial of May 9 accused: Tarar

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that the Constitution and law were “strictly followed” in the trial for the May 9 attacks accused, Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

“No action was taken beyond the ambit of the Constitution and law,” he said while addressing a press conference along with Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb and Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Ali Pervaiz Malik in Islamabad.

The minister claimed that all actions were in compliance with the requirements of international forums and the local courts. International laws and court orders were “strictly being complied with,” he said while responding to question about military court trials for suspects.

He cited the example of Pakistan International Airlines and said the national flag carrier’s flights to Europe were restored because international laws had been implemented.

“All over the world, there was a system of military courts and Pakistan was not an exception. Those tried under military courts were given the right to a fair trial, through right to engage a counsel, right to access to record and access to family,” he said.

“No international law was violated in the right to a fair trial of the May 9 accused,” he added.