Supreme Court Mandates Four-Month Deadline for May 9 Riot Cases
Islamabad – The Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed anti-terrorism courts (ATCs) to conclude all pending cases related to last year’s May 9 riots within four months. The order came during proceedings on Tuesday before a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi.
Key Developments
1. Case Management Directives
- ATCs nationwide must deliver verdicts within 120 days
- Courts required to submit biweekly progress reports to respective high courts
- Trials to proceed daily as mandated by counter-terrorism laws
2. Judicial Proceedings
The bench was hearing:
✔ 20 bail cancellation petitions filed by Punjab government
✔ Cases against PTI leaders and civilians accused of attacking military installations
✔ Concerns about trial delays raised by defense counsel
3. Defense Arguments
- Sumair Khosa (representing Khadija Shah) cited multiple pending cases
- Faisal Chaudhry (defending ex-PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry) noted 35 ongoing cases
Financial and Human Toll
Punjab Government Report Highlights:
💸 Rs 197 million in property damage
👥 24,595 suspects still at large
⚖️ 9,319 FIRs registered across 38 districts
🚨 11,367 arrests made to date
🏥 157 casualties (152 police officers, 5 civilians injured; 4 civilians killed)
Judicial Observations
Chief Justice Afridi emphasized:
- “ATC judges must ensure defendants’ rights remain protected throughout proceedings”
- Referenced 2017 Mashal Khan lynching case as precedent for expedited trials
- Reassured defense about judicial fairness despite expedited timeline
Contextual Background
The May 2023 unrest followed former PM Imran Khan’s arrest, resulting in:
- Attacks on military facilities
- Widespread vandalism
- Ongoing legal repercussions for PTI members
Next Steps
📅 Compliance Monitoring: High courts to oversee ATC progress
⚖️ Verdict Deadlines: All judgments due by [Month] 2024
📊 Impact Assessment: Post-trial review of judicial process
This judicial intervention aims to balance expedited justice with due process protections in these high-profile cases.
Key Takeaways
- Strict 4-month deadline set for riot case resolutions
- Biweekly reporting mechanism established for accountability
- Defense concerns about rushed trials acknowledged but overruled
- Provincial damage assessment reveals significant costs
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