Lahore, Pakistan, August 2: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Thursday sentenced more than 100 members of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s political party to prison terms over their alleged roles in violent protests that targeted military sites in May 2023, according to a court order seen by Reuters.
Fifty-eight of the defendants, including senior party officials and parliamentarians, were handed 10-year sentences, while the remaining individuals received terms ranging from one to three years, the order said. Those convicted include Omar Ayub Khan and Shibli Faraz, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in the lower and upper houses of parliament, respectively.
“The prosecution has proved its case against the accused without a shadow of doubt,” the court said in its ruling, which pertained to an attack on an intelligence agency’s office in the eastern city of Faisalabad during the nationwide protests.
Khan Faces Separate Trial
Former Prime Minister Khan, who has been incarcerated since 2023, is being tried separately on charges linked to incitement of the May 9 riots, which erupted after his arrest and saw demonstrators storm military installations, including the army’s headquarters in Rawalpindi.
Khan, who also faces charges of corruption, land fraud, and leaking official secrets, has denied all wrongdoing, calling the cases politically motivated and part of a broader military-backed effort to dismantle his party. The military has denied involvement. Thursday’s ruling does not directly impact the ongoing case against Khan, in which the prosecution is still presenting witnesses.
Political Fallout
The PTI party has vowed to challenge the court’s verdict. It marks the third mass conviction of party members this month, with at least 14 lawmakers now convicted and set to lose their parliamentary seats under Pakistani law — a major blow to the opposition’s strength.
The court also acquitted 77 defendants for lack of evidence in the Faisalabad case. In response to the ruling, PTI has announced new nationwide protests starting August 5, the second anniversary of Khan’s imprisonment, demanding his immediate release.
