LAHORE: The Punjab caretaker government on Thursday announced that trials of those involved in the May 9 violence will be held in jail.

“The trial of those arrested in the May 9 events will be held in jail on a daily basis,” the government said after a meeting presided over by Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

The meeting was also informed that 200 suspects had been acquitted after being proven innocent.

It reviewed the progress made in the legal proceedings against the culprits. The arrested suspects are facing charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

Around 200 persons were acquitted after being proven innocent

The meeting was told that the relevant departments would be duly informed about the trial proceedings in jail on a daily basis.

“Expedite the legal actions against the culprits and make sure that absconding suspects be arrested at the earliest,” the CM directed the authorities concerned.

The meeting underscored the need to present ‘strong evidence’ against the arrested suspects and emphasised that no leniency would be shown to any culprits involved in the events of May 9.

IGP Dr Usman Anwar briefed the meeting over the arrest of the culprits.

The Punjab government had reportedly arrested over 3,000 PTI leaders and workers in the aftermath of the May 9 riots. Later, it released 1,200 suspects due to lack of evidence.

The PTI claims over 10,000 of its workers across Pakistan had been arrested after May 9.

As the Punjab government denies mistreatment of the PTI women arrested in arson attacks in jail, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar made it clear that no case against any woman involved in the May 9 violence has been sent to the military courts as yet.

He said around 74 cases had been forwarded to the military for trial under the army act.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2023