PHC turns down KP's request for judicial commission to probe May 9 riots

• PHC registrar says advocate general's request cannot be considered.
• Court stresses violation of provisions of Rules of Business of 1985.
• KP govt sought appointment of judicial officers to probe May 9 riots.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has turned down Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's request for constituting a judicial commission to probe last year's May 9 riots triggered after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan's arrest in a graft case.

In its response to the KP government's letter seeking the formation of a judicial commission, the PHC's registrar said that Advocate General Shah Faisal Uthmankhel's request cannot be considered as it violates the provisions of the Rules of Business of 1985.

The development comes after the provincial government, last month, wrote to the PHC Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim seeking an investigation into the May 9 incidents that saw military installations including the Rawalpindi's General Headquarters (GHQ), Lahore Corps Commander's House being vandalised by mobs.

The then-Prime Minister Shehbaz-Sharif-led Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, as well as the incumbent regime, have time again blamed the PTI for orchestrating the riots — an allegation vehemently denied by the former ruling party with its founder Khan saying that he would sack and himself seek punishment for the PTI members if they were found involved in the incidents.

The military has also called for the perpetrators of the riots to be punished as per the Constitution and the law of the land to preserve credibility and faith in the country’s justice system.

"Army's stance on [May 9] is clear, which was conveyed in the May 7 [2024] press conference. There has been no change in that nor will there be," Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said in a press conference last month.

The KP government's letter in question, which was also confirmed by provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam Afridi last month, had requested the PHC CJ to nominate a judge or judges for the judicial commission as per the decision of the KP cabinet made on June 27, The News reported on Saturday.

The AG had stated that the KP government would notify the names of the judges once the PHC constituted the judicial commission and nominated judges for that.

He had stated that Terms of Reference for the commission would be prepared later for the commission to bring forth the fact behind the May acts.