Islamabad: The Punjab government on Friday submitted a report to the Supreme Court regarding cases filed and suspects arrested for their involvement in the alleged organised vandalism that shocked the nation on May 9.
The top court had asked the authorities to provide details during the hearing of pleas challenging the trials of civilians in military court.
The report, however, does not include the data of minors, journalists, lawyers or those in custody.
A seven-member bench — comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Ayesha Malik, and Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi, is hearing a set of petitions against military trials.
The government had decided to try civilians under army laws after enraged protesters belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vandalised army installations following the arrest of their party chief.
The petitions, separately filed by PTI Chairman Imran Khan, former chief justice Jawwad S Khawaja, legal expert Aitzaz Ahsan, and five civil society members including Piler Executive Director Karamat Ali, have requested the apex court to declare the military trials unconstitutional.
As per the report, 81 women had been detained following the May 9 mayhem. Of these, 42 have been released on bail, while the remaining 39 are on judicial remand.
Moreover, the report stated that while 3,050 suspects had been found involved in incidents of vandalism following the PTI chief’s arrest, 2,258 detention orders were issued under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Act. Of these, only 21 are currently in jail.
Furthermore, the report added that 1888 people were arrested in the 51 cases registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) on May 9. Of these 1888, 108 accused are on physical remand while 1247 are in judicial custody.
Additionally, the identification parade of 33 suspects was conducted while 232 were released on bail. At the same time, 500 people were declared innocent and released.
According to the report, 247 cases were registered under laws other than the ATA. In these cases, 4,119 people were arrested, of whom 86 accused are in physical remand, while 2,464 are in judicial custody.
Moreover, the identification parade of 368 suspects was carried out, and 1201 were acquitted. The report shared that 3,012 people were released on bail in these cases.
