PTI Punjab Leader, Workers Jailed 10 Years in May 9 Case

Sargodha — An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Sargodha on Tuesday sentenced Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Ahmed Khan Bachar, Member of National Assembly (MNA) Mohammad Ahmed Chattha, and several other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers to 10 years imprisonment each in a vandalism case related to the May 9, 2023 riots.

Ahmed Khan Bachar was not present in the courtroom during the announcement of the verdict. The case was initially registered in Mianwali over vandalism and violent protests that erupted following the arrest of PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a corruption case on May 9 last year.

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All 32 accused, including Bachar, were exempted from personal appearance by the court.

Last month, the Lahore High Court (LHC) rejected bail petitions of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in eight separate cases linked to the May 9 violence, including the attack on the Corps Commander House in Lahore, commonly known as Jinnah House. Previously, on November 27, 2024, the ATC had also dismissed Imran Khan’s bail pleas in these cases.

May 9 mayhem

The May 9, 2023, events refer to the violent protests that broke out in several parts of the country following the arrest of the PTI founder and saw attacks on public properties and military installations, including Corps Commander House Lahore, also known as Jinnah House.

The riots were triggered by the arrest of ex-premier Khan from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a graft case.

Several PTI leaders and workers were released on bail after their arrests, while many still remain behind bars.

The deposed prime minister, who was ousted from power via the opposition’s no-confidence motion in April 2022, has been behind bars since August 2023 as he was facing a slew of charges ranging from corruption to terrorism.