Opposition, treasury spar over May 9 verdicts

A heated debate unfolded in the Punjab Assembly over sentences handed down by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in the May 9 violence cases.

Treasury lawmakers termed the verdicts the outcome of actions taken by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) itself.

Tensions rose shortly after the session began on a seemingly positive note, as Acting Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channer issued a notification reinstating 26 suspended PTI MPAs.

The gesture was welcomed by both sides, with treasury benches initially voicing support for PTI lawmakers' return, recognising their democratic right to represent their constituencies.

However, the mood in the House quickly shifted when news broke that the Sargodha ATC had awarded sentences to PTI leaders and workers, including Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar.

The Opposition immediately launched a protest.

PTI Chief Whip Rana Shahbaz Ahmad said that if such verdicts continued, "eighty per cent of PTI lawmakers could be convicted on baseless charges."

Lawmaker Waqas Maan warned the government that political tides can turn.

In response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman clarified that the government had no role in the court's decisions, noting, "The verdicts were issued by an independent judiciary, not the executive."

He also reminded the Opposition of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's disqualification, which he termed a "forged case."

Rehman added that the PTI was enjoying more political space than the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had under the Musharraf regime. Other treasury members echoed this sentiment, recalling how political leaders including Maryam Nawaz, Asif Ali Zardari, and Faryal Talpur had also faced jail time.

PML-N Chief Whip Rana Arshad directly addressed the May 9 violence, asking, "Who instructed PTI to attack airbases and military installations? These are the consequences of their actions."

PML-N MPA Ahsan Raza Khan added that sentences were not limited to politicians, noting that army officers, including those of major and brigadier rank, were also court-martialed over the same incidents.