FAISALABAD – A special anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad on Thursday announced its verdict in cases related to the 9 May riots. It sentenced 108 individuals, including prominent political figures, to various prison terms.
The court handed 10-year jail sentences to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Umar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, and Zartaj Gul. Authorities linked the convictions to the attack on a sensitive security installation during the violence that followed the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan. Umar Ayub sentenced to 10 years became a significant headline following the court’s ruling.
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The court convicted 108 out of 185 accused and acquitted the remaining 77. Authorities maintained tight security inside and outside the court during the hearing.
In a related case from Ghulam Muhammadabad, the court sentenced 58 out of 66 accused to 10 years each. It acquitted eight individuals in that case. National Assembly member Sahibzada Hamid Raza also received a 10-year sentence. Junaid Afzal Sahi received a three-year prison term—the lowest among the convicted.
The court acquitted several individuals due to insufficient evidence. These included PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry, Sial Castro, and Zain Qureshi, the son of former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
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This ruling marks a major legal development after the 9 May unrest. Legal experts believe the verdict reflects how the judiciary assessed each individual’s role based on the evidence.
The convicted individuals can appeal the decision in higher courts. PTI and the families of convicted leaders have not yet issued an official response.
