Another judicial blow to embattled PTI: Opposition leaders in NA, Senate, MPs given 10 years in jail for May 9 riots

FAISALABAD/ ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Terrorism Court, Faisalabad, delivered convictions to top-tier Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders, including leaders of opposition in National Assembly and Senate and serving MPs, for orchestrating the May 9 riots targeting a sensitive agency’s office and sparking riots and arson. Out of 284 individuals tried in three separate cases, 195 were convicted and sentenced, while 88 were acquitted.

In the case registered at the Civil Lines Police Station pertaining to the attack on a sensitive agency’s office, a total of 108 accused received sentences while 77 were acquitted. Prominent figures sentenced to 10 years include Senate Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz, National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, PTI parliamentary leader Zartaj Gul, MNAs Kanwal Shauzab, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, alongside other high-profile leaders such as Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Rai Murtaza, Ahmad Chattha, and Rai Hassan Nawaz. Meanwhile, MPA Junaid Afzal Sahi was handed a three-year sentence. On the acquittal side, senior PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry, Zain Qureshi and Khayal Kastro walked free in this particular case.

Moving on to the second case at the Civil Lines Police Station, 28 out of 32 accused were convicted and slapped with 10-year prison sentences. This batch included familiar names like Omar Ayub, Zartaj Gul, Shibli Faraz, Kanwal Shauzab, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, Hamid Raza, Rai Haider Kharl, Ansar Iqbal Haral, and Rai Hassan Nawaz. Four leaders, namely Fawad Chaudhry, Zain Qureshi, Khayal Kastro, and one other, were acquitted in this case.

In the third and final case, which concerned arson and rioting under Ghulam Muhammad Abad Police Station’s jurisdiction, 59 out of 67 accused were found guilty. Again, heavyweights like Omar Ayub, Zartaj Gul, Shibli Faraz, Kanwal Shauzab, and Sheikh Rashid Shafiq each got 10-year sentences. Fawad Chaudhry, Zain Qureshi, and Khayal Kastro were among the seven acquitted in this instance.

In a related development, the Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad has issued arrest warrants for 50 PTI bigwigs, including ex-Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, and PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan, tied to a case filed on November 26 at Karachi Company.

In a parallel development, another Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad took decisive action by issuing arrest warrants for absent accused in cases slapped against PTI top brass and leaders. These cases stem from the Judicial Complex attack and various protests. ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra confiscated the bail bonds of the absent accused, issuing notices and dispatching non-bailable arrest warrants.

The court has put the Judicial Complex attack case hearing on hold until September 2. During this hearing, ex-Chief Minister Pervez Elahi and other PTI leaders filed applications for exemption from attendance, which the court accepted. Separately, due to PTI founder Imran Khan’s non-availability in the Bhara Kahu Police Station case, the court couldn’t take action and adjourned the hearing until August 4.

A court rejected bails and issued arrest warrants for absent accused in a Secretariat Police Station case from November 26, with a forensic report submitted. Hearing adjourned till August 5. The court also adjourned a Kohsar police station case till August 4, issuing arrest warrants for absent accused. Multiple cases against PTI leaders are ongoing across various stations.

An ATC judge ordered the Islamabad Police to arrest KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in a May 9 riots case. Gandapur was absent, so the court upheld his arrest warrant. The hearing was adjourned till August 6. The case is filed at Islamabad’s Industrial Area police station.

A judicial magistrate postponed a case against Gandapur involving liquor and illegal weapons due to his unavailability. His counsel cited by-election duties in KP. The defence filed and got an exemption application approved, with the next hearing set for September 6.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan announced that the party will challenge the sentences of its leaders and workers in the May 9 cases in higher courts, declaring the day a moment of regret for democracy. Senior party leaders, including Asad Qaiser, Junaid Akbar Khan, and MWM’s Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, were present on the occasion.

Gohar said that within just three days, three separate prison sentences were given, adding up to a total of 45 years of imprisonment. The party chairman noted that six of their MNAs, three MPAs, a senator, the leaders of the opposition in the National Assembly and Senate, as well as Sunni Ittehad Council chief Hamid Raza and PTI parliamentary leader Zartaj Gul, had been targeted.

Gohar pointed out that nearly two years had passed since their leader’s imprisonment, and even his wife had been punished to exert pressure. “Yet, we remained within the system, stayed in the House, and refrained from protests. Despite this, the oppression, injustice, and discriminatory treatment continue unabated.” Questioning the motives behind the crackdown, Gohar asked, “If the PTI is pushed out of the system, who stands to benefit?” PTI believes in democracy and stability, not chaos. Imran Khan will decide whether to return to the House or boycott, which risks derailing democracy, but there’s still hope to salvage the system.

In a related development, former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has claimed in a video message that sentences have been issued in the Faisalabad protest case, including one against his nephew. He alleged that Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, who was not present in Faisalabad, has been sentenced to 10 years in two cases.

Meanwhile, the PTI spokesperson has vehemently rejected the verdict by the Faisalabad ATC, labelling it as legally “flawed, biased, and politically motivated”. The spokesperson condemned the ruling as a travesty of justice and one of the darkest chapters in Pakistan’s judicial history, equating it to judicial murder. He emphasized that the convictions of key figures such as the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, the leader of the opposition in the Senate, SIC Chairman and NA Human Rights Committee head Sahibzada Hamid Raza, PTI Parliamentary Leader Zartaj Gul, PTI Regional President Rai Hassan Nawaz, and several workers, are the result of a hasty, one-sided, and politically motivated trial. This, he said, is an attempt to crush PTI’s leadership and workers’ resolve.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar hailed the Faisalabad court verdicts against those involved in the May 9 riots, calling them a “historic precedent” that will deter future conspiracies against the state. Talking to the media, Tarar termed the ransacking of Lahore’s Jinnah House as the work of “professional dacoits” and emphasized that the culprits have now been sentenced. Tarar said verdicts set a precedent, deterring future conspiracies.

Meanwhile, Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari also welcomed the Faisalabad court verdict, describing it as a timely and commendable decision in the national interest. She stated that the ruling delivers a clear and unequivocal message to those with anti-state agendas that such actions will not be tolerated. Azma Bokhari emphasised that inciting violence against state institutions is an unforgivable offense, and terrorism disguised as political activism must be stopped. Bokhari said the decisions will make people think twice before similar actions.

Meanwhile, PTI MPA Ahmad Khan Bhachar has been removed from the position of Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly, with a formal notification issued to this effect. The Punjab Assembly Secretariat officially dismissed Bhachar from his role, as reported by Geo News. This development comes after an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) convicted Bhachar, along with other PTI leaders including Ahmad Chattha, Dr Yasmin Rashid, and Mian Mahmood-ur-Rasheed, in the May 9 case, handing them 10-year prison sentences. Subsequently, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued notifications disqualifying both Ahmad Chattha and Ahmad Khan Bhachar. Notably, Ahmad Chattha was the elected MNA from NA-66 (Wazirabad), while Ahmad Khan Bhachar was the elected MPA from PP-87 (Mianwali).