An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Sargodha sentenced Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachar, and other party workers to 10 years in prison each on Tuesday.
They were found guilty of involvement in creating law and order disturbances, anarchy, and arson during the May 9 riots, which erupted following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan.
The ATC judge delivered the verdict after hearing detailed arguments and finding that the prosecution had established its case. The defence counsels argued that the accused were not involved in the charges brought against them, claiming that these were politically motivated cases.
They further stated that no substantial evidence was available to link their clients to the offences outlined in the First Information Report (FIR).
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The prosecution countered by presenting evidence establishing the involvement of the accused. They argued that the defendants incited public unrest, leading to violent incidents across the country.
The FIR included charges under anti-terrorism laws related to vandalism, arson, and inciting riots during protests that followed Imran Khan's arrest.
According to court proceedings, the accused were found guilty of damaging public property, setting buildings on fire, and causing unrest. The ATC handed down the sentence after a thorough examination of the evidence, witness statements, and police reports.
'Black day of democracy'
Deputy Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly, Moeen Riaz Qureshi, termed the proceedings as a “black day of democracy,” stating that lawmakers, including the opposition leader of the largest province, were unlawfully sentenced based on fabricated evidence and witnesses.
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He stated that every child in Pakistan is aware of the fate of these cases and that the public is fully informed about the court's conduct.
PTI will challenge the ATC court's decision in the appellate court, he said, adding, Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar will continue to serve as the opposition leader in the future.
PTI’s Chief Whip in the Punjab Assembly Rana Shahbaz Ahmad stated that such decisions would not force them to bow down, as they stand firm for a cause and the future of the nation.
May 9 Riots
The May 9 riots erupted nationwide following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan, after which PTI leaders and workers staged protests targeting both civil and military installations, including Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
The military condemned the events as a "Black Day" and decided to try the protesters under the Army Act.
As a result of the unrest, many PTI members were arrested and tried in military courts. In December, a military court convicted 25 individuals, including Imran Khan’s nephew, Hassan Khan Niazi, and later sentenced 60 more.
In January, 19 convicts had their sentences pardoned following successful mercy appeals, although PTI expressed dissatisfaction over the limited number of pardons.
The military trials had initially been halted following a Supreme Court ruling but were resumed following the court's instructions to finalise pending cases and announce judgments for those involved in the violent incidents.
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