Twenty-five people have been sentenced to prison terms by Pakistani military justice for their involvement in demonstrations in support of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the army announced on Saturday (December 21).
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The arrest ofImran Khan in May 2023, over accusations of corruption, sparked nationwide protests by supporters expressing their anger against the all-powerful army. In response, the latter orchestrated a campaign of repression of the PTI, the party of the former head of government.
His supporters continue to demonstrate regularly and some have targeted army sites, resulting in them being tried in military courts. an intimidation tactic intended to suppress dissent “, according to the human rights organization Amnesty International.
Military court decisions are rarely announced to the media, but the army’s public relations department said Saturday that 25 men had been convicted. Fourteen of them were sentenced to ten years in prison and the others to lighter prison sentences, indicates a press release which does not specify for what reason each was punished, or when they were.
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Imran Khan’s party rejected these convictions
In May 2023, the Pakistan “ witnessed politically motivated incidents and violence and arson in several places », says the text. “ These obvious acts of violence have not only shocked the nation, but also highlighted the need to monitor these unacceptable attempts at political terrorism », Adds the press release.
Imran Khan’s party, Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), “rejected » these convictions, considering that they were “ all disproportionate and excessive “.
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This announcement comes three weeks after tens of thousands of supporters of the former Prime Minister demanded his release in Islamabad, giving rise to clashes. At least five paramilitaries were killed, according to the government, while the PTI says 10 of their number were shot dead by security forces.
Coming to power in 2018, Imran Khan was ousted by a motion of no confidence in 2022 after losing the support of the army.
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