A special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Faisalabad on Thursday sentenced senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Omar Ayub Khan, Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul, and Hamid Raza to 10 years of imprisonment for their alleged involvement in the May 9, 2023 riots.
The ruling marks one of the most significant convictions stemming from the nationwide unrest that followed the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan. The protests, which turned violent, saw attacks on military installations, government buildings, and particularly the Lahore corps commander’s residence, drawing harsh condemnation and leading to a massive crackdown on PTI workers and leaders.
Out of 185 PTI members charged in the Faisalabad cases, the court convicted 108, while others were acquitted or handed lighter sentences. PTI’s Punjab Assembly member Junaid Afzal Sahi was sentenced to three years in prison. In contrast, MNA Zain Qureshi, MPA Khayal Ahmad Kastro, and former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
The verdict comes amid a broader judicial and military campaign against those linked to the May 9 riots. In May 2025, an ATC in Islamabad sentenced MNA Abdul Latif and others to 27 years for attacking a police station. Earlier, in December 2024, military courts had sentenced 85 civilians to prison terms ranging from two to ten years for attacks on army properties.
The PTI leadership has called the sentences politically motivated, claiming the cases lack due process.
The convicts are expected to appeal the verdict in higher courts.