FAISALABAD, PAKISTAN – In a significant crackdown on dissent, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad has sentenced 166 members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to 10-year prison terms each for their alleged involvement in the violent May 9, 2023, riots. The sweeping verdict, which includes several high-profile opposition leaders, comes just days before the PTI is set to launch its nationwide “Free Imran Khan Movement” on August 5.
The convicted individuals, which include PTI leaders Omar Ayub, the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly; Shibli Faraz, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate; and former minister Zartaj Gul, were found guilty in connection with attacks on military installations across Punjab province following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.
The verdicts were handed down in two separate cases. In one case concerning the attack on the ISI building in Faisalabad, the court convicted 108 of the 185 accused. In a second case related to an attack on a police station, 58 individuals were also sentenced to 10 years. So far, 14 PTI legislators have been convicted and disqualified in connection with the May 9 unrest, further weakening the party’s presence in parliament.
The PTI has strongly condemned the rulings, with interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali calling them politically motivated and an attempt to suppress the party. He announced that the PTI will appeal the verdict in the Lahore High Court, arguing that the convictions are based solely on police testimonies.
The sentencing is the latest development in a wider crackdown on the PTI following the May 9 riots, which saw supporters vandalize and attack military and government sites. Over 10,000 PTI supporters were arrested at the time, with many, including Khan’s nephew, sentenced to prison terms by special military courts.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023, is awaiting trial on separate charges related to the riots. His family has announced that his sons, Suleman and Kasim, will travel to Pakistan to join the protest movement. However, the Punjab Information Minister, Azma Bokhari of the ruling PML-N, has issued a stern warning, stating that any attempt to incite unrest will be dealt with “strictly.”
