Pakistan Court Sentences 166 PTI Members to 10 Years in Jail Over May 9 Violence
ISLAMABAD, August 1 – In a sweeping judgment ahead of a major opposition protest campaign, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court has sentenced 166 members of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to 10 years in prison each for their alleged role in the violent events of May 9, 2023.
The court ruling, delivered by the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Faisalabad, includes sentences for several prominent lawmakers, including opposition leaders from both the National Assembly and Senate. The convictions are tied to attacks on military and intelligence installations, including the ISI building in Faisalabad and other key facilities across Punjab province.
The PTI has strongly condemned the verdict, calling it a politically motivated move aimed at weakening the party and disqualifying its leadership ahead of a planned nationwide protest movement, the “Free Imran Khan Movement,” set to begin on August 5.
Convictions Target High-Profile Leaders
Among those sentenced are:
- Omar Ayub, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly
- Shibli Faraz, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
- Zartaj Gul, former Minister of State for Climate Change
- Sahibzada Hamid Raza, senior PTI leader
The court convicted 108 out of 185 accused in the ISI building attack case, while 77 individuals were acquitted. In a separate case concerning the attack on a police station in Faisalabad, another 58 PTI workers were handed 10-year jail terms.
In total, 14 PTI legislators—including six members of the National Assembly, one Punjab Assembly member, and one Senator—have now been convicted and disqualified over the May 9 incidents.
PTI Vows to Challenge Verdict
PTI’s interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan announced that the party would appeal the verdict in the Lahore High Court, calling it part of a broader attempt by the government to “eliminate political opposition through fabricated cases and mass disqualifications.”
He alleged that the testimonies used to convict PTI lawmakers were based solely on police statements and lacked credible evidence. “The government wants to fill Parliament and Senate seats vacated by disqualified PTI lawmakers with its own members,” he claimed.
Background: May 9 Violence and Political Fallout
The May 9 violence erupted following the arrest of Imran Khan in a corruption case. His supporters took to the streets in protest, and the unrest resulted in the vandalism of several military facilities, including the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence (Jinnah House), the Mianwali Airbase, the ISI building in Faisalabad, and even the Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
Over 10,000 PTI supporters were arrested in the aftermath, with more than 100 reportedly tried in military courts. Among them was Khan’s nephew, Hassan Khan, who is currently serving a 10-year sentence handed down by a military tribunal.
Earlier on July 22, the Lahore ATC also sentenced seven senior PTI leaders to 10 years in prison each for their involvement in the Sharpao Bridge riots, part of the same wave of unrest.
Khan’s Family Prepares for Political Showdown
Despite the crackdown, the PTI is preparing to launch its nationwide “Free Imran Khan Movement.” Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, recently revealed that his sons, Suleman and Kasim, plan to return to Pakistan to support the protest.
However, Punjab’s Information Minister and PML-N leader Azma Bokhari warned that Khan’s sons would face legal consequences if they participated in any “violent protest” upon arrival.
Imran Khan Still Behind Bars
Imran Khan, 72, remains imprisoned since August 2023 and faces multiple legal cases stemming from his time in office and the events following his ouster in April 2022. Once hailed as a reformist leader and former cricket legend, Khan now finds his party under pressure from what many critics describe as a systematic campaign to dismantle PTI’s political machinery.