Pakistan Court Sentences 47 PTI Leaders to 10 Years for May 9 Violence

Severe Sentences for PTI Leaders

On Saturday, an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, handed down 10-year prison sentences to 47 members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. This ruling is linked to the violent protests that erupted on May 9, 2023, following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Each convicted individual was also fined 500,000 Pakistani rupees, and their properties are set to be seized.

District and Sessions Judge Amjad Ali Shah stated that the defendants were found guilty of arson, vandalism, assaults on police, and destruction of government property.

Among those sentenced are notable PTI figures, including Omar Ayub Khan, Shibli Faraz, and Hammad Azhar, as reported by various news outlets.

The court noted that these individuals had been absent from court proceedings for nearly two years, leading to their separate trial under the Anti-Terrorism Act provisions for absconding suspects.

Law enforcement has been instructed to arrest the convicted individuals upon their appearance or capture. They may request a retrial if they surrender within a specified timeframe.

A total of 118 individuals, including Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, were indicted in this case back in December 2024.

Imran Khan's government was ousted in April 2022, and he was arrested on May 9, 2023, but was released shortly thereafter.

Currently, Khan is facing multiple criminal charges, primarily related to alleged corruption. He was re-arrested in August 2023 and has been detained at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since September 2023.

The unrest following his May arrest led to significant turmoil across Pakistan, with government and military facilities, including the General Headquarters, being attacked and damaged.

In response, authorities initiated a crackdown on the PTI, filing numerous terrorism-related charges against its leaders and supporters.