A Pakistani anti-terrorism court has sentenced 75 individuals linked to former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party to jail terms, ranging from 3 to 10 years, for their involvement in the May 9 riots. The convictions stem from an attack on the home of a senior PML-N leader. According to a court official, the Anti-Terrorism Court in Faisalabad issued 10-year sentences to 59 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members and 3-year sentences to 16 others. Additionally, 34 individuals were acquitted in relation to the attack on Rana Sanaullah’s residence, the PML-N Punjab President. The court had a total of 109 defendants, with 75 now convicted.
Those sentenced include prominent figures like Omar Ayub, a former opposition leader in the National Assembly; Shibli Faraz, a former opposition leader in the Senate; along with Zartaj Gul Ahmed Chatha, Ashraf Khan Sohna, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, and Kanwal Shozab. Previously, these individuals were also given 10-year sentences for the attack on an ISI building in Faisalabad; the sentences are concurrent. Former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Zain Qureshi, the son of former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, were acquitted. On May 9, 2023, supporters of Imran Khan caused significant damage to military and government buildings, particularly in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Imran Khan has been imprisoned for the past two years, while thousands of his party workers have also been detained in relation to the May 9 events. Courts in Punjab have begun sentencing PTI figures under orders from the Supreme Court. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has strongly criticized the verdict, claiming it is based on false charges and fabricated evidence. Zulfi Bukhari, a close associate of Imran Khan, used social media to express his outrage, highlighting alleged injustices against ordinary citizens and PTI leaders.