Shibli, Zartaj, Omar Among 100 PTI Leaders Sentenced by ATC

News Desk 

Faisalabad: A special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Faisalabad on Thursday sentenced over 100 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, Senator Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul, and others, to 10 years in prison for their alleged involvement in the May 9, 2023, riots following the arrest of the PTI founder.

The court announced the verdict in a case registered at the Civil Lines police station, sentencing a total of 108 individuals out of 185 accused.

Among those convicted is Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief and MNA Sahibzada Hamid Raza, who also received a 10-year prison term.

The court, however, acquitted former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, Zain Qureshi, and Khayal Kastro in the same case.

In a separate case also registered at the Civil Lines Police Station, 28 out of 32 accused were sentenced, while four were acquitted.

In another related case, registered at the Ghulam Muhammadabad Police Station, the ATC sentenced 60 individuals, acquitting seven. Junaid Afzal Sahi was handed a three-year jail term in this case.

Reacting strongly to the series of verdicts, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the cumulative 45-year sentencing of senior party leaders over the last three days was a “grave blow to democracy.”

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/arif-alvi-gandapur-among-51-pti-leaders-facing-arrest/

“These decisions will destroy democracy,” Gohar told the media. “The judiciary is seen with hope, but the people have become disappointed. There is still time to save the system. We want democracy to be strong and the system to function.”

The latest verdicts come days after the ATC sentenced PTI leaders Dr Yasmin Rashid and Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed to 10 years in the May 9 case. Former Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, and Afzal Azeem Pahat have also been sentenced in similar cases.

Earlier, a Sargodha ATC sentenced Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Ahmed Khan Bachar and MNA Mohammad Ahmed Chattha to 10 years in prison along with several PTI workers.

These back-to-back convictions have intensified the legal troubles of PTI, which recently launched its anti-government movement. The campaign is expected to reach its peak by August 5, as per directions from the party’s incarcerated founder.

Background: May 9 Riots

The May 9, 2023, violence erupted following the arrest of the PTI founder from the Islamabad High Court in a corruption case. Protests turned violent across the country, with attacks on public property and military installations, including the Corps Commander House in Lahore (Jinnah House).

While some PTI leaders and workers were released on bail, many remain behind bars. The party founder, ousted from power through a no-confidence vote in April 2022, has been imprisoned since August 2023 and is facing multiple cases, including charges of corruption and terrorism.