Islamabad: In a significant ruling, a special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Faisalabad has acquitted several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Fawad Chaudhry, Zain Qureshi, and Khayal Kastro, in connection with the May 9, 2023 violence that erupted across the country.
The court also handed down sentences to others involved in the violence, including PTI leaders Omar Ayub Khan, Shibli Faraz, and Zartaj Gul, who were sentenced to 10 years in prison each.
Sentencing and Acquittals
In its verdict, the ATC sentenced 108 individuals from a total of 185 accused in the May 9 violence cases. Among the sentenced were high-profile individuals such as Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief MNA Sahibzada Hamid Raza, who was given a 10-year sentence for his involvement in the violence at Civil Lines Police Station.
The court’s ruling also included a significant acquittal for former PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry, Zain Qureshi, and Khayal Kastro, who had been facing charges in the case but were cleared of all accusations.
In another case related to the violence at Ghulam Muhammadabad Police Station, the court sentenced 60 individuals while acquitting seven of the 67 accused. The verdict also included a three-year jail term for Junaid Afzal Sahi, who had been involved in the violent events.
PTI’s Reaction
The verdict has sparked a strong response from PTI, with Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan criticizing the judicial process. He highlighted that a total of 45 years of prison sentences had been handed down to the party’s leadership in just three days, calling it a “destruction of democracy.”
“These decisions will destroy democracy,” Gohar Ali Khan said while speaking to the media. “The judiciary is seen with hope, but the people have become disappointed with it. There is still time to save this system,” he added.
Gohar emphasized that PTI wanted the system to work properly and democracy to remain strong, despite the legal setbacks the party was facing.
A Week of Consecutive Verdicts
Today’s decision comes just days after PTI leaders Dr. Yasmin Rashid and Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed were handed 10-year sentences for their involvement in the same case. The Faisalabad ATC ruling adds to a series of verdicts that have added to PTI’s legal challenges in recent weeks.
This series of consecutive verdicts is part of the ongoing legal troubles facing the former ruling party, which has been actively campaigning against the government, with a major push expected by August 5, following the instructions of PTI’s incarcerated founder.
May 9 Mayhem
The May 9, 2023, violence refers to the widespread protests that erupted across Pakistan following the arrest of PTI’s founder, Imran Khan. The protests targeted public properties and military installations, including the iconic Jinnah House in Lahore. These riots were sparked by Khan’s arrest during a graft case at the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
While many PTI leaders and workers were granted bail after their arrests, several, including high-profile individuals, remain behind bars. Khan, who was removed from power through a no-confidence motion in April 2022, has faced numerous charges ranging from corruption to terrorism since his ouster and remains in prison as of August 2023.
