Faisalabad( The COW News Digital)In a landmark judgment, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Faisalabad on Thursday sentenced 108 individuals, including prominent political figures, in connection with the violent events that occurred on May 9, 2023. The court handed down varying prison terms after finding the accused guilty in two major cases linked to attacks on sensitive installations.
Among the convicted are senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Umar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, and Zartaj Gul, each sentenced to 10 years in prison. The court also sentenced Sahibzada Hamid Raza, a sitting Member of the National Assembly (MNA), to 10 years for his involvement in orchestrating and encouraging attacks on state properties.
Junaid Afzal Sahi received a 3-year sentence, which marks the lightest punishment among the convicted group. He was found guilty of inciting unrest but was not directly involved in attacks on sensitive facilities.
The judgment was delivered under tight security, both inside and outside the court premises, amid rising public and political interest in the outcome. The ATC examined evidence and testimonies in two separate cases concerning the May 9 unrest, particularly focusing on an attack on a key sensitive installation.
Out of 185 total suspects, 108 were convicted, while the remaining 77 individuals were acquitted due to lack of evidence. The acquitted included prominent names such as Syed Zain Qureshi (son of Shah Mahmood Qureshi), Fawad Chaudhry, and Sial Castro, who were cleared of all charges by the court.
The decision marks a major development in the government’s ongoing crackdown on the events of May 9, which saw nationwide protests and violent incidents following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The defense teams have announced their intention to appeal the verdicts in higher courts, citing political victimization and lack of substantial evidence against many of the accused.
Legal analysts believe the ruling will set a precedent for political accountability but also warn of increased polarization in the country’s already tense political environment.
The Ministry of Interior has praised the court’s decision, calling it “a step toward restoring the rule of law.”
