LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Faisalabad on Thursday sentenced over 100 leaders and workers of the PTI,including severalkey oppositionfigures, to jail terms of up to 10 years in connection with the May 9 riots.

ATC Judge Javed Iqbal Sheikh announced the reserved judgements in three separate cases, registered at two police stations in Faisalabad.

On May 9, 2023, PTI supporters, protesting the party founder Imran Khan`s arrest, staged violent protests throughout the country, vandalising military installations and state-owned buildings, while also attacking the Lahore corps commander`s residence. Following the riots, thousands of protesters, including party leaders, were arrested.

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, Opposition Leader in the Senate Shibli Faraz, MNA Zartaj Gul, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Sheikh Rashid Shafique (nephew of former interior minister Sheikh Rashid), Kanwal Shauzab, Farah Agha, Rai Haider Kharal and Muhammad Ahmad Chattha were among those sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.

They were convicted under Section 109 (punishment for abetment) and Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) in FIRNo. 835/2023, registered at Ghulam Muhammadabad police station.

In FIR No. 1277/2023 of the same police station, 60 out of 67 accused were convicted, while seven were acquitted.

In FIR No. 832/2023, registered at the Civil Lines police station, 107 out of 108 accused were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment while one person received a three-year sentence. The judge acquitted 77 accused in this case, statingthat the prosecution hadfailed to establish charges against them.Other prominent PTI figures convicted included Ashraf Sohna, Rai Hassan Nawaz, Rai Murtaza, Chaudhry Iqbal Ijaz, MPA Junaid Afzal Sahi, Chaudhry Asif Ali and Shakeel Ahmad Khan Niazi.

However, former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry, MNA Zain Qureshi (son of PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi), MPA Khayal Ahmad Kastro and Faizullah Kamuka were acquitted in all three FIRs.

The judge issued arrest warrants for those convicted who were not present in court, including Shibli Faraz, Omar Ayub, Rai Murtaza Iqbal and Zartaj Gul. Arrest warrants were also issued for MNA Ali Afzal Sahi for his failure to appear before the court.

The judge directed the police to arrest all convicts and bring them before the court forimprisonment.

PTI`s lawyer, Malik Khalid Shafique, told Dawn that although several accused workers were present outside the court in the morning, none were there at the time when the judgement was announced, preventing the police from making any arrests.

Thursday`s conviction follows a similar judgement by ATCs in Lahore and Sargodha on July 22, where several PTI leaders and workers, including Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Bachar, former Punjab governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry and former provincial ministersDr Yasmin Rashid and Mian Mehmoodur Rashid, were sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. However, Shah Mehmood Qureshi was acquitted in a Lahore case.

On Dec 21 and 26 last year, a military court sentenced over 50 PTI leaders and activists, including Imran Khan`s nephew Hassaan Niazi, to up to 10 years for their involvement in the May 9 riots.

The ATCs have been hearing May 9-related cases daily to meet a deadline set by the Supreme Court for the conclusion of trials by August.

Tariq Saeed from Toba Tek Singh also contributed to this report