Islamabad: A Faisalabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday sentenced National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, Senate Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Zartaj Gul to 10 years each in prison in a case pertaining to May 9 protests. The day had witnessed vandalisation of military installations by mobs in Pakistan following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
In its decision, the special ATC handed 10 years imprisonment to 108 people of the total 185 accused, which includes Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Member of National Assembly (MNA) Sahibzada Hamid Raza. The court acquitted former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, Zain Qureshi and Khayal Kastro in the case related to May 9, Pakistan’s leading daily, ‘The News International’ reported.
In the second case lodged at the Civil Lines Police Station, the anti-terrorism court sentenced 28 out of the 32 accused and acquitted four people. The names of 107 people were mentioned in the case, of which 32 were tried. The individuals who have been acquitted include Fawad Chaudhry, Zain Qureshi and Khayal Kastro.
In another case related to the May 9 violence lodged at Ghulam Muhammadabad Police Station, the court sentenced 60 individuals and acquitted seven of the 67 accused. The court announced a three-year jail term for Junaid Afzal Sahi in the aforementioned case.
Reacting to court’s decision, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that a total of 45 years sentence has been given to the party leaders in back-to-back judgements announced in three days. While speaking to reporters, he said, “These decisions will destroy democracy.” (IANS)
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