Seven prominent leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan have been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in the 2023 riots cases. Lahore’s Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has sentenced Senator Ejaz Chaudhary, former Punjab Governor Sarfaraz Cheema, former Provincial Ministers Yasmin Rashid and Mahmudur Rashid, and lawyer Azim Higher, who contested the previous elections against Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in Lahore, on May 9, 2023, in the case related to Sharapao Braridge riots.
Seven years imprisonment for seven leaders of Imran Khan’s party
A court official told PTI, “The anti-terrorism court (ATC) of Lahore Ejaz Chaudhary, former Punjab Governor Sarfaraz Cheema, former Provincial Minister Yasmin Rashid and Mahmudur Rashid and Advocate Azim Pahat were sentenced to 10-10 years. Political observers estimate that these leaders may be convicted in other cases related to the violence on May 9.
In addition, a Lahore court sentenced eight PTI members to 10–10 years in prison for involvement in the riots in the city. Those who have been sentenced include former Governor of Punjab province Omar Sarfaraz Cheema, former Provincial Minister Yasmin Rashid and current Senator Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhary. However, former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and five others were acquitted.
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Violence erupted after Imran Khan’s arrest
After the riots, thousands of protesters, including the top leadership of the party, were arrested. Khan has been in jail in several cases since August 2023. The federal government has welcomed the sentence pronounced by the ATC and described it as a positive step. PTI Punjab unit chief Alia Hamza, senior leader Babar Awan and MLA Asad Kaiser condemned the sentence, saying that neither transparent nor legal procedures were followed in these cases nor any reliable witnesses were presented.
PTI has vowed to challenge these decisions in the High Courts
PTI -based spokesman Syed Zulfikar Bukhari said the prosecution “exposes a disturbing pattern of procedural irregularity, selective justice and constitutional violations.” He called these cases “political spectacles …, which are being dealt with at a fast pace – daily hearing, even late Saturday at 10:40 pm hearing.” Khan has been jailed since August 2023 on several allegations of corruption, about which his party says that these allegations are inspired by politics. His supporters and senior party leaders have also faced strict action, thousands of people have been detained and Khan’s name has been removed from television.
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Last year, a panel of experts from the United Nations found that Khan’s detention was “no legal basis and it seems that its purpose was to disqualify him from contesting elections”. Khan’s popularity is weakening the unstable coalition government that kept PTI away from power after elections last year.
What can be the effect of the decision?
According to political observers, this decision can have far -reaching political consequences. Imran Khan is already in jail in many cases and the party has been under constant pressure from both the Election Commission and the government. The PTI leadership has suffered a major setback due to the sentencing of these top leaders now. Political analysts also believe that these leaders may be convicted in other cases related to the May 9 violence, which may make their punishment even longer. However, PTI has termed the court’s decision “politically motivated” and announced its intention to appeal.