ATC Jails Senior PTI Leaders for 10 Years; Party Mulls Appeal, House Boycott

Anti-Terrorism Court Faisalabad on Thursday awarded sentence to a group of senior leaders from former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to 10 years in prison over their alleged involvement in violent protests on May 9, 2023, according to PTI officials.

However, BBC Urdu cited incumbent Chairman of the PTI Barrister Gohar who informed the media to invoke jurisdiction of High Court through availing appeal opportunity against decision of the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) saying: ‘We will decide after consultation with Imran Khan whether to stay in the House or boycott’’.

Arab News reported Thursday the protests erupted after Khan was briefly arrested by paramilitary forces in Islamabad on corruption charges, sparking widespread demonstrations by his supporters waving PTI flags. Several demonstrators turned violent, attacking government buildings and military installations, prompting a sweeping crackdown by the state.

Thousands of PTI members and supporters were detained, and dozens were charged under anti-terrorism laws, with some cases referred to military courts.

“An Anti-Terrorism Court in Faisalabad city of Punjab has announced the decision of sentencing 108 people from PTI, including the opposition leader in the National Assembly, Omer Ayub Khan, the opposition leader in Senate, Shibli Faraz, along with parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, Zartaj Gul Wazir, and many others,” Zulfi Bukhari, a close aide to Khan and former federal minister, said in a statement. He has been cited saying, “Their status in both houses stands disqualified”, terming the sentencing “a sad day for democracy” in Pakistan.

The verdict follows another court ruling last week in Lahore where several other senior PTI members were handed sentences on similar charges related to May 9 rioting. Those convicted in Lahore included Yasmin Rashid, a former provincial health minister; Senator Ejaz Chaudhry; Mehmoodur Rashid, a former housing minister; and Umar Sarfraz Cheema, a former provincial governor and aide to Khan.

However, the court acquitted PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who remains in custody in connection with other cases.

According to Geo News TV, his son, Zain Qureshi, was also acquitted by the Faisalabad court on Thursday, along with Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, a former federal minister under Khan’s administration.

The sentencing comes as PTI is planning to launch a protest campaign on August 5, coinciding with the second anniversary of Khan’s incarceration. The former prime minister, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote in 2022, remains in prison facing multiple charges he claims are politically motivated.

Speaking to reporters, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan condemned the verdicts, saying those sentenced were not supporters of political violence.

“They sacrificed their entire families yet remained committed to the system and within the bounds of Parliament,” he said. “These verdicts are causing immense damage to the country and the nation.”

Gohar added the party would “decide whether to return to Parliament, whether to boycott it, whether to permanently disengage from this system or whether to launch a movement.”

‘VICTORY FOR LAW, JUSTICE SYSTEM’

In a televised message, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar hailed the court’s verdict, accusing Khan supporters of damaging military installations, government property, injuring law enforcement personnel and committing acts of arson in various places across the country on May 9, 2023.

“The trial that took place for this was a very fair trial,” Tarar said. “This trial lasted for a long time, cross-examinations were held, witnesses were presented, and the evidence was also presented,” he said.

He described May 9, 2023, as a “dark” day in Pakistan’s history. “So, I think this [verdict] is a victory of the law, it is a victory of the justice system in this country,” the minister said. “And those people who thought they were above the law, that they would carry out these attacks and no action would be taken, I think their beliefs have also been proven wrong.”

Authorities say the May 9 riots caused billions in damages and led to over 3,000 arrests in Punjab province alone. Khan denies any wrongdoing.