Major Blow to PTI: Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul Among Leaders Sentenced to 10 Years in May 9 Cases
FAISALABAD: In a significant development, a special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Faisalabad has sentenced several prominent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, Senator Shibli Faraz, and Zartaj Gul, to 10 years in prison each in connection with cases stemming from the May 9, 2023, violence.
The verdicts, delivered on Thursday, mark a severe blow to the former ruling party. In the primary case registered at the Civil Lines Police Station, the ATC convicted 108 out of 185 accused individuals. This includes Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief MNA Sahibzada Hamid Raza, who also received a 10-year imprisonment. However, the court provided some relief by acquitting former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, Zain Qureshi, and Khayal Kastro in this particular case.
Further judgments from the same court underscored the broad scope of the crackdown:
In a second related case at the Civil Lines Police Station, 28 of the 32 accused were sentenced, with four individuals acquitted.
Another case linked to the May 9 unrest, registered at Ghulam Muhammadabad Police Station, saw 60 individuals sentenced, while seven of the 67 accused were acquitted. In this specific case, Junaid Afzal Sahi was handed a three-year jail term.
PTI Decries Verdicts as Threat to Democracy
Reacting strongly to the court's decision, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan expressed dismay, highlighting that PTI leaders have cumulatively received 45 years of sentences in back-to-back judgments over just three days.
"These decisions will destroy democracy," Gohar stated to the media, adding, "The judiciary is seen with hope, but the people have become disappointed with it. There is still time to save this system." He emphasized the party's desire for the democratic system to function and strengthen.
Today's rulings follow closely on the heels of similar convictions. Just days prior, PTI leaders Dr. Yasmin Rashid and Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed were also handed 10-year sentences in a May 9 case. Former Punjab governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, along with PTI leaders Senator Ejaz Chaudhry and Afzal Azeem Pahat, received sentences in the same context. Earlier, the Sargodha ATC had sentenced Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Ahmed Khan Bachar, MNA Mohammad Ahmed Chattha, and several other PTI workers to 10 years each for their alleged involvement in the May 9 vandalism.
These successive verdicts compound the legal woes of the PTI, which formally launched its anti-government campaign a week ago, with plans to reach its "peak" by August 5, as per directives from the incarcerated PTI founder.
The May 9 Mayhem: A Recap
The May 9, 2023, events refer to widespread violent protests that erupted across various parts of Pakistan following the arrest of the PTI founder. These demonstrations saw attacks on public properties and sensitive military installations, most notably the Corps Commander House Lahore, also known as Jinnah House. The riots were primarily triggered by the arrest of the former prime minister from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a graft case.
Since then, numerous PTI leaders and workers have faced arrests, with many still remaining behind bars, while others have been released on bail. The deposed prime minister, who was ousted from power through a no-confidence motion in April 2022, has been incarcerated since August 2023, facing a multitude of charges ranging from corruption to terrorism.
