Faisalabad / Islamabad: In May 9 , 2023 violence case, an anti terrorist court of Faisalabad on Thursday sentenced 108 leaders and workers of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) including senator Omar Ayub Khan , opposition leader in the lower house and Shibli Faraz who is leader of opposition in the upper house of the parliament as well as Surtaj Gull , PTI’s parliamentary leader in the national assembly, for a 10-year term.
The anti terrorist court ( ATC) , however , freed MNA Zain Qureshi , who is son of PTI vice chairman , Shah Mahmood Qureshi who was exonerated in an identical case by an an ATC of Lahore. The anti terrorist court of Faisalabad also freed Fawad Hussain Chaudhary, who soon after May 9 , 2023 violence had distanced from PTI, condemning the protestors attacks on military installations in May 9 protests two years ago.
After the arrest of PTI founding chairman and former prime minister, Imran Khan, from a Islamabad court in May , 2023 , his party leaders and workers had taken to the streets across Pakistan for protest. The PTI protestors resorted to attacks on military installations in different cities of Pakistan including Faisalabad. Unruly protestors marched into the streets across Pakistan in next 24 hours and then they ransacked government’s buildings in a large numbers in various major cities of Pakistan. These crowed also attacked military installation primarily assuming that the military leadership was behind the arrest of Imran Khan. PTI violent protests persisted for more than two days and during this period its hardened supporters damaged military installations in almost all major cities of Pakistan including Faisalabad, Mianwali , Karachi, Lahore , Peshawar and Islamabad, Rawalpindi.
PTI’s violent protests and the strategy to damage military installations gave a strong signal to the military leadership of Pakistan. ISPR, the military’s spokesperson rushed to give its reaction. As was expected ISPR’s reaction to PTI protests and particularly to attacks on military installations had got furious reaction from ISPR whose spokesperson announced that all those involved in this criminal activity will be taken to task and brought to the court of law for justice.
ISPR director general held a serious of press conference on the issue and held PTI leadership in particular Imran Khan responsible for pushing Pakistan into chaos in the guise of protests. From violent protests and targeting the military installations, military top brass gathered the impression that Imran Khan unleashed violent attacks on the military installations through unruly protests to create divide between the armed forces of Pakistan and the people.
The cases were made against PTI leaders and workers for ransacking public properties and damaging military installations and after more than two years now the accused are being awarded sentence in the case. A few days ago, Faisalabad anti terrorist court had awarded 10-year term to the first batch of PTI leaders and workers.
Reacting to sentence to the second batch of party leaders and workers, PTI chairman, Barrister Gohar told a press conference that today’s decision in May 9 was severe blow to democracy in Pakistan. He said PTI core committee will met Imran Khan in Adiala Jail to take his advice either PTI should stay in the parliament or get out of it in protest against sentences awarded by anti terrorist courts to the party leaders and workers.