Islamabad, An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Faisalabad on Thursday handed down 10-year prison sentences to several senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including Omar Ayub Khan, Senator Shibli Faraz, Hamid Raza, and former Minister of State Zartaj Gul, for their involvement in the violent unrest that occurred on May 9, 2023.
The convictions are part of a broader legal crackdown on individuals involved in the nationwide protests that erupted following the arrest of PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The protests led to widespread vandalism, including attacks on military installations and public buildings.
Out of 185 PTI workers implicated in the case, 108 have now been convicted. PTI Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Junaid Afzal Sahi received a three-year sentence. However, several prominent figures, including MPA Khayal Ahmad Kastro, MNA Zain Qureshi, and former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry, were acquitted.
Reacting to the verdicts, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan announced that the party would challenge the decision in higher courts, terming the cases “politically motivated.” Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, he reaffirmed the party’s commitment to non-violent political struggle.
“We do not believe in violence or incitement,” said Barrister Gohar. “Those convicted today have always stood for democratic principles and peaceful political engagement.”
In an official statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), PTI strongly condemned the court verdicts, calling them “false, fabricated, and part of a broader plan to suppress democratic opposition.” The statement highlighted that six Members of the National Assembly, three provincial lawmakers, and one senator had been sentenced in what the party called a “clear violation of the Constitution and the principles of justice.”
PTI further alleged that the timing of the verdicts was aimed at derailing its mass mobilisation campaign scheduled for August 5.
“This ruling is not about delivering justice—it is about silencing dissent,” the party stated. “The judiciary is increasingly being weaponized to curtail political opposition, without transparent trials, credible evidence, or due process.”
The party reiterated its resolve to resist political oppression and affirmed that its peaceful public movement under the leadership of Imran Khan would continue unabated.
“Our loyalty to Imran Khan’s vision is unwavering,” the statement concluded. “These unjust sentences have only strengthened our determination to stand firm against tyranny and fight for constitutional rights.”
This latest wave of convictions follows a May 2025 ruling by an ATC in Islamabad sentencing PTI MNA Abdul Latif and others to 27 years in prison for attacking a police station during the same unrest. Earlier, in December 2024, military courts sentenced 85 civilians to prison terms ranging from two to ten years over violent attacks on military facilities.
