Pakistan court jails 47 PTI leaders for 10 years over 2023 riots
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Rawalpindi: An anti-terrorism court sentenced 47 leaders and supporters of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to 10 years in prison for their role in the violent May 9, 2023 protests that followed the ex-premier's arrest, Dawn reported.
The court, led by Judge Amjad Ali Shah, convicted them of arson, vandalism, attacking police, and damaging government property—including storming the army's General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. Each faces a 500,000 PKR fine and property confiscation.
Prominent PTI figures like Omar Ayub Khan, Shibli Faraz, Shahbaz Gill, Zulfi Bukhari, Murad Saeed, Zartaj Gul, Hammad Azhar, and others received the sentence in absentia after evading trial for nearly two years. Authorities must arrest them upon surrender or capture; absconders can seek retrial within a set period, Dawn reported.
Khan's May 2023 arrest sparked nationwide riots targeting military sites, prompting a sweeping crackdown with terrorism charges against PTI ranks. Of 118 indicted—including Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi—these 47 were tried separately under anti-terror laws.
Ousted in April 2022 and re-arrested in August 2023, Khan remains in Adiala Jail facing multiple corruption cases amid ongoing political turbulence.