ATC Hands 10-Year Sentences to Top PTI Leaders in May 9 Cases

In a major legal development involving the May 9 protests, a special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Faisalabad sentenced several senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders to prison. The court handed 10-year jail terms to 60 of the 108 convicted PTI members, including prominent figures Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz.

High-Profile Convictions

Those sentenced include opposition leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, Senate opposition leader Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and Sheikh Rashid Shafiq—nephew of former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed. The court issued varying sentences: 60 individuals received 10-year terms, while others were jailed for three years each.

In total, 185 PTI members faced charges related to violent demonstrations following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan. The ATC acquitted 77, including senior party leader Fawad Chaudhry, and other well-known names like Zain Qureshi, Faizullah Kamoka, Khayal Kastro, and Haroon Rasheed.

Notable Absences and Arrest Warrants

Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, despite being sentenced, did not appear in court. Authorities reported that he has gone into hiding to evade arrest.

Meanwhile, the ATC issued arrest warrants for 50 PTI leaders connected to various protest cases across Islamabad. The warrants came just ahead of a major protest scheduled for August 5, spearheaded by PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja.

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Among the 50 facing arrest are former President Arif Alvi, Faisal Javed, Murad Saeed, Abdul Qayyum Niazi, and several provincial leaders including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

Calls for Protest and Political Pushback

Salman Akram Raja has called for nationwide protests, framing them as a movement for “national sovereignty” rather than a mere political campaign. He criticized recent legal actions against PTI lawmakers and the Punjab Assembly’s move to send disqualification references against 26 party members to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Raja argued that such actions were unconstitutional and vowed that PTI would continue to resist what he termed as politically motivated suppression.

Legal Proceedings Expand

Warrants were also issued in connection to earlier protests, including those held on March 18 and November 26. In the March 18 case, ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Supra issued arrest warrants for Faisalabad MNA Ali Afzal Sahi, noting his failure to appear before the court.

For the November 26 protest, which led to more than 30 FIRs across Rawalpindi Division, the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for 15 prominent PTI members, including Arif Alvi, Asad Qaiser, and Kanwal Shauzab. Prosecutors accused several defendants of using medical excuses to delay court proceedings.

Court’s Stance on Bail and Absenteeism

Rawalpindi prosecutor Syed Zaheer Shah stated that the court has filed bail cancellation requests for 68 individuals and launched legal action against their guarantors. He warned that repeated delays and outdated medical certificates would no longer be accepted as excuses.

So far, nine individuals have already been convicted in one of the cases registered at Sadiqabad Police Station. Out of the 31 protest-related FIRs filed across Rawalpindi Division, 13 accused are currently on interim bail.

Continued Legal Pressure

In yet another case tied to the killing of a police officer in Taxila, both Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been named among the accused. Non-bailable arrest warrants have also been issued for several other top leaders in related cases in Wah Cantt and Naseerabad.

The crackdown illustrates the growing legal pressure on PTI, just as the party gears up for more nationwide demonstrations. With the next court hearings scheduled for early August, the legal and political landscape remains volatile for the embattled party.