PTI Leaders Among 47 Convicted In May 9 Riots Case, Court Hands 10-Year Sentences
An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi has convicted 47 individuals, including several senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in connection with the violent incidents that took place during the May 9 riots in 2023. The court sentenced each of the convicted individuals to 10 years in prison.
The verdict was delivered by Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Judge Amjad Ali Shah, who ruled that the accused were involved in organizing and participating in violent attacks on military and government installations. Among those sentenced are PTI leaders Omar Ayub, Zartaj Gul, Murad Saeed, Shibli Faraz, Shehbaz Gill, and Hammad Azhar.
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In addition to these prominent figures, the court also found several other political leaders and individuals guilty of playing central roles in the conspiracy behind the May 9 incidents. Those identified as key conspirators include Kanwal Shuzaib, Rashid Shafiq, Zulfi Bukhari, Muhammad Ahmed Chatha, Rai Hassan Nawaz, Rai Muhammad Murtaza, Shaukat Ali Bhatti, Usman Saeed Basra, and Ijaz Khan.
During earlier proceedings, all of the convicted individuals had been declared proclaimed offenders after failing to appear before the court. Due to their continued absence, the court conducted a separate trial under the Anti-Terrorism Act for the 47 absconding suspects.
The court ruled that the accused were involved in multiple violent acts, including attacks on police personnel, arson, vandalism, and the destruction of government property. According to the judgement, the riots also included assaults on important military facilities such as the General Headquarters (GHQ) Gate in Rawalpindi, Hamza Camp, and the Army Museum.
Along with the prison sentences, the court imposed a fine of Rs500,000 on each convicted individual. The court also ordered the confiscation of their properties as part of the punishment.
The case originally included 118 accused persons, among them PTI founder Imran Khan and senior party leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Both leaders were formally charged in December 2024 in connection with the May 9 incidents.
During the trial proceedings, statements from 44 prosecution witnesses were recorded as part of the evidence presented to the court. Officials stated that 18 of the accused consistently remained absent throughout the trial, while another 29 individuals never appeared before the court after the case had been registered.
The May 9 riots erupted across several cities in Pakistan following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan on May 9, 2023. He had been taken into custody from the premises of the Islamabad High Court in connection with a corruption case.
Following his arrest, thousands of PTI supporters staged protests that quickly turned violent. Demonstrators attacked and damaged several public properties and military installations, including the Corps Commander House in Lahore and the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
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