LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday handed down 10-year prison sentences to several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Dr Yasmin Rashid and Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, in connection with the May 9 riots. The court also sentenced former Punjab governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, PTI Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, and Afzal Azeem Pahat in the same case. The verdict, which had been reserved earlier, was announced today.
This ruling dealt another significant blow to Imran Khan’s party. Earlier the same day, a separate ATC in Sargodha sentenced Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Ahmed Khan Bhachar, MNA Mohammad Ahmed Chattha, and multiple PTI workers to 10 years each for involvement in vandalism during the May 9 protests.
Bhachar has announced his intention to appeal the decision in the high court, claiming the judgment was politically driven and violated constitutional norms. He criticized the ruling as lacking legal foundation and accused the government of manipulating the judiciary, especially after the 26th Amendment.
The Mianwali-based case pertains to riots and destruction of public property during nationwide protests that erupted following the arrest of PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan on corruption charges on May 9, 2023. The verdict comes shortly after the Lahore High Court dismissed Khan’s bail pleas in eight separate cases related to the same unrest, including the attack on Lahore’s Jinnah House.
These latest convictions add to the growing legal challenges facing PTI, which recently launched a fresh anti-government movement, expected to peak by August 5 on the directives of the jailed party leader.
Judiciary Under Fire
Addressing a press conference, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan lashed out at the judiciary, calling the sentences “controversial” and alleging that legal procedures were not followed. “Today’s verdicts show the judiciary has collapsed,” he stated, claiming that public confidence in the courts has eroded.
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Gohar further alleged that the same witnesses are being recycled across various May 9-related cases and questioned the legality of trying a single case in multiple jurisdictions. He highlighted that three PTI lawmakers, including the opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly, were convicted under the same FIR.
Prominent lawyer Salman Akram Raja echoed these concerns, terming the verdicts an attack on democratic values rather than just punishment for PTI. He questioned the reliability of witnesses, noting identical testimonies being used across multiple trials in Punjab. He urged judicial authorities to reflect on the broader implications for justice and civil liberties.
Government’s Response
In contrast, Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik defended the court decisions, asserting that the trials were transparent and fully compliant with legal standards. Speaking to Geo News, he said, “All evidence was duly presented, and every legal formality was observed.”
He dismissed PTI’s criticism as baseless and politically motivated. “This is the same party that avoided court appearances and failed to present legal arguments. They reject every verdict that doesn’t go in their favour,” he added, insisting that the rulings were constitutionally sound and legally binding.