By Bureau Report
PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court on Friday put the federal government on notice, seeking its response to the petitions of 13 people against their conviction by military courts for involvement in the May 9, 2023, violent protests in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
A bench consisting of Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Dr Khurshid Iqbal directed the defence and interior secretaries and other respondents to file their respective comments about three almost identical petitions of the convicts within a fortnight.
The petitioners requested the court to set aside their convictions by the respective military courts, arguing their sentences were unconstitutional, arbitrary and illegal.
Nine of the convicts, including Raheemullah and others, kept at the Central Prison Bannu, have filed a joint petition against the sentences of 10 years rigorous imprisonment awarded to them by the Field General Court Martial (FGCM) in Kohat, which were confirmed by the concerned brigade commander.
Petitioners insist their sent