By ABDULLAH 
In a major legal development, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Faisalabad has sentenced senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, and 57 others to 10 years in prison over their alleged involvement in the May 9, 2023 riots. The case relates to an attack on the residence of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former interior minister, Rana Sanaullah.
While PTI leadership faced heavy sentences, Fawad Chaudhry and MNA Zain Qureshi were among those acquitted. The verdict is part of a broader wave of convictions linked to the May 9 unrest that shook Pakistan’s political landscape.
The May 9, 2023 protests erupted after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan from the Islamabad High Court premises. What began as a political demonstration quickly escalated into violent clashes, resulting in damage to government buildings, military installations, and private properties.
The state launched a sweeping crackdown, leading to thousands of arrests including top PTI leadership, parliamentarians, and workers. Multiple FIRs were filed across Punjab, Sindh, and KP, marking the beginning of high-profile trials that continue to this day.
- 59 individuals, including Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz, were sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment.
- 16 others received three years in prison, including MPA Sheikh Shahid Javed of PP-115.
- 34 individuals were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
- Former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry and PTI lawmaker Zain Qureshi were cleared of all charges.
The case was heard by Judge Javed Iqbal Sheikh, who announced the sentences after day-to-day hearings.
Those convicted include several prominent PTI figures who already faced disqualification from parliament due to earlier convictions:
- Omar Ayub (Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly)
- Shibli Faraz (Leader of the Opposition in the Senate)
- Zartaj Gul (Former Minister of State for Climate Change)
- Sheikh Rashid Shafique (Nephew of Sheikh Rashid Ahmed)
- Rai Hassan Nawaz, Rai Murtaza Iqbal, Kanwal Shauzab, and Farah Agha
The convictions mean that these leaders will face automatic disqualification under Article 63(1)(g) of the Constitution, which bars lawmakers convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude.
PTI leaders strongly criticized the verdict. Zartaj Gul, one of the convicted, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that she was innocent and provided evidence that she was attending local events in Dera Ghazi Khan on the day she was accused of attending a planning meeting in Lahore.
The PTI legal team, led by Malik Khalid Shafiq, said the sentences were politically motivated and announced plans to appeal.
These convictions are part of a broader legal campaign:
- On July 22, 2025, PTI leaders Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed were sentenced to 10 years in prison in Lahore.
- On July 31, 2025, over 100 PTI leaders and workers were sentenced by another ATC in Faisalabad.
- Former Prime Minister Imran Khan was granted bail in multiple cases by the Supreme Court in August, but remains incarcerated in others.
Analysts say the consistent convictions are reshaping Pakistan’s opposition landscape ahead of the next general elections.
The PTI has vowed to challenge the ruling in higher courts, while legal experts believe the appeals process could take months. Meanwhile, political uncertainty continues as Pakistan navigates economic pressures and governance challenges.
The debate over whether these trials represent justice or political victimization remains unresolved — but what is clear is that the May 9 cases have left a lasting mark on Pakistan’s political history.
The sentencing of Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, and dozens of other PTI leaders marks another chapter in Pakistan’s turbulent political crisis. With high-profile acquittals like Fawad Chaudhry and Zain Qureshi, and ongoing appeals in the pipeline, the saga is far from over.
For now, the opposition faces a weakened presence in parliament, while the government moves forward under the shadow of Pakistan’s most polarizing political trials.