Lahore, July 23 (H.S.): Two courts in Lahore and Sargodha have each sentenced several leaders of Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to 10 years in prison, related to incidents of violence following Imran’s arrest on May 9, 2023. The Lahore anti-terrorism court, presided over by Judge Arshad Javed, issued the verdict at Kot Lakhpat Jail. Those sentenced include Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, former governor Umar Sarfraz Cheema, and former provincial minister Mian Mahmoodur Rashid, alongside other individuals like Afzal Azeem Pahat and Ali Hasan. Notably, PTI Vice President Shah Mehmood Qureshi and five others were acquitted based on evidence that they were not present during the alleged violence. The cases stemmed from a charge sheet presented on September 28, 2023, alleging a ‘conspiracy of May 9’ orchestrated at Khan’s residence.

In Sargodha, a separate anti-terrorism court sentenced 32 PTI leaders, including Punjab Assembly opposition leader Ahmad Khan Bachar, to 10 years for rioting connected to protests that took place on the same day. Furthermore, over 70 individuals associated with the violence were declared absconders, and several defendants were excused from attending the trials. Convictions under these May 9 cases will automatically disqualify PTI MPs per Article 63(1)(g) of the Constitution. Umar Ayub Khan criticized the Sargodha court’s ruling, asserting the prosecution’s witnesses were deemed unreliable, and described the verdict as unjust. He emphasized that the PTI would appeal the sentences in higher courts. The sentiments expressed by Khan and other PTI leaders reflect a belief that the rule of law is deteriorating in Pakistan due to these legal outcomes.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar