Faisalabad ATC has acquitted Fawad Chaudhry and 76 others.
FAISALABAD ( Web News )
A special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Faisalabad on Thursday sentenced several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders — including Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, and Zartaj Gul — to 10 years in prison over their involvement in cases related to the May 9, 2023, violence. Strict security arrangements were made both inside and outside the court to avoid any untoward incidents. In the case related to the attack on a sensitive institution, the court awarded punishments to 108 out of 185 accused, while the rest were acquitted.
The court sentenced Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, and Zartaj Gul to 10 years in prison. Member of the National Assembly Sahibzada Hamid Raza was also sentenced to 10 years in jail. Junaid Afzal Sahi received a 3-year prison sentence, which is the shortest sentence given by the court.
The Faisalabad ATC acquitted Fawad Chaudhry, and Zain Qureshi, the son of Shah Mahmood Qureshi and 75 others in the cases.
In a separate case registered at Ghulam Muhammadabad Police Station, the court sentenced 60 individuals, while 7 of the 67 accused were acquitted.
Eearlier this month, the Lahore ATC sentenced eight leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) – including Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry, and Omar Sarfraz Cheema – to 10 years in prison each for their involvement in the Sherpao Bridge arson and incitement case, related to the May 9 protests.
Khalid Qayyum, Riyaz Hussain, Ali Hassan and Afzal Azeem Pahat were among those who were sentence to imprisonment.
However, the court acquitted six individuals, including former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Hamza Azeem.
ATC Judge Arshad Javed delivered the verdict inside Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail under strict security measures. All the accused were present when the verdict was announced.
The case was registered at Sarwar Road Police Station, accused the defendants of inciting violence, delivering provocative speeches, and causing damage to public property, all falling under terrorism-related charges.
The court concluded the trial of 14 accused individuals. Of these, eight were sentenced to 10 years in prison each, while six were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
The prosecution presented testimony from 61 witnesses to support the charges. The state’s case was argued by Prosecutor Abdul Jabbar Dogar.
The case pertains to the violent incidents, including arson and rioting, that occurred at Sherpao Bridge in Lahore on May 9, 2023, following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The FIR includes terrorism and other criminal charges.
This ruling follows a directive from the Supreme Court, which had ordered all trial courts to conclude May 9-related cases within four months. In compliance, the ATC conducted daily hearings to ensure timely judgment.
Warrants issued
Earlier today, ATC issued arrest warrants for 50 PTI leaders in connection with various protest-related cases registered at multiple police stations in the federal capital ahead of PTI’s August 5 protest. The warrants were issued by Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja called for a nationwide protest on August 5 last week, urging the public to support what he termed a “historic movement” for national sovereignty rather than mere political survival.
Raja condemned what he described as unconstitutional actions against PTI lawmakers and a broader crackdown on dissent. He specifically criticized the Punjab Assembly’s decision to send references against 26 PTI members to the Election Commission of Pakistan, calling the move unlawful and politically motivated, and asserted that PTI members would continue to raise their voices against this step.
The warrants for 41 PTI leaders were issued on Thursday, while arrest warrants for nine others had been issued earlier. The warrants were issued in a case number registered at Karachi Company Police Station.
Prominent names among those facing arrest include former President Arif Alvi, Abdul Qayyum Niazi, Shibli Faraz, Faisal Javed, Salman Akram Raja, Rauf Hassan, Murad Saeed, and Ahmad Niazi.
Arrest warrants have also been issued for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Asad Qaiser, Hammad Azhar, Atif Khan, Shoaib Shaheen, Azam Khan Swati, Omar Ayub, and Sahibzada Hamid Raza.
Other PTI members named in the warrants include Aleema Khanum, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Kanwal Shauzab, Shandana Gulzar, and Sher Afzal Marwat.
Faizabad protest case
In the Faizabad protest case, which pertains to demonstrations held over former prime minister Imran Khan’s disqualification, the court maintained that the status of CM Ali Amin Gandapur as a proclaimed offender remains unchanged.
The court ordered Islamabad Police to arrest Gandapur, stating that the arrest warrants remain in effect. The court further directed that if any order exists from the Peshawar High Court, it must be complied with.
PTI leader Faisal Javed Khan and others appeared before the court. Upon a request from lawyers, the hearing was adjourned until August 6. The case against Ali Amin Gandapur and others is registered at Industrial Area Police Station.
March 18 protest
In a separate case pertaining to PTI leaders’ protest on March 18, the ATC issued arrest warrants for PTI MNA from Faisalabad, Ali Afzal Sahi. Judge Tahir Abbas Supra, who also presided over this case, noted that “Ali Afzal Sahi has not appeared before this court to date”. Arrest warrants were also issued for other absent PTI workers.
Hearing for the case registered at Golra Police Station was adjourned till August 9.
November 26 protest
Meanwhile, in the case registered at Secretariat Police Station related to the November 26 protest, the court dismissed the bail of an accused who repeatedly remained absent. Arrest warrants were issued for those not present at the hearing. A forensic report related to the case was submitted, and the next hearing was set for August 5.
The hearing of the November 26 case registered at Kohsar Police Station was also adjourned until August 4. Arrest warrants were issued for accused individuals who failed to appear.
Non-bailable arrest warrants have been issued for 15 PTI leaders, including Arif Alvi, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Kanwal Shauzab, Zubair Niazi, and Asad Qaiser, in connection with ten cases registered in Rawalpindi related to the November 26 protest, government prosecutors said Thursday.
Addressing a press conference outside an ATC in Rawalpindi, prosecutor Syed Zaheer Shah, flanked by district prosecutor Chaudhry Muhammad, stated that bail cancellation requests for 68 accused individuals have also been filed, along with separate applications against their guarantors.
Zaheer Shah said that delaying tactics by the accused will no longer be tolerated. In the case registered at Sadiqabad Police Station, nine out of 111 nominated individuals have already been convicted.
A total of 31 cases related to the November 26 protest have been registered in the Rawalpindi Division — including 20 in Attock, 10 in Rawalpindi, and one in Chakwal. Thirteen accused are currently on interim bail.
According to the prosecutor, the accused appear in court once and submit outdated medical reports to request adjournments. He said that investigations in all 31 cases have been completed, and after the issuance of non-bailable warrants, the accused typically secure protective bail from high courts.
Cop’s killing in Taxilla
In a case involving the killing of a police officer in Taxila, Imran and Bushra Bibi are among the nominated accused.
ATC has further issued non-bailable arrest warrants in the Wah Cantt and Naseerabad cases for Arif Alvi, Ali Amin Gandapur, Omar Ayub, Asad Qaiser, Hammad Azhar, and 20 others.
Barrister Gohar Reaction
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar has reacted to the court verdicts against party leaders, stating that a decision regarding boycotting the parliament or launching a movement will be made soon.
Speaking at an press conference alongside Asad Qaiser, Junaid Akbar Khan, and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Gohar said, “Today is a sad day for democracy. Our mandate has been stolen, our leader has been kept in jail, and the doors of justice have been closed on us.”
The PTI chairman said, “We made every possible effort to ensure democracy continues, to keep the parliament functioning, but the oppression, injustice, and unequal treatment show no signs of ending”.
Six of PTI MNAs, three MPAs, one senator, the opposition leader in the National Assembly and the Senate have all been sentenced, he lamented. He said the PTI continued to be pushed against the wall.
The PTI Chairman also strongly criticized the Election Commission of Pakistan, saying, “This is the same Commission whose tenure has expired, yet our elected representatives continue to be disqualified. If PTI is being removed from the system, then the question is — who is behind it?”
He said PTI believes in the system and democracy, not in politics of chaos or confrontation. “But circumstances have come to a point where we must place this matter before our leader Imran Khan to decide whether we should boycott the parliament or launch a movement”.