An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Faisalabad has delivered verdicts in two prominent May 9 cases, sentencing a total of 167 accused individuals. Among those handed down sentences are prominent PTI leaders including Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul, and Member of National Assembly Sahibzada Hamid Raza, each receiving 10-year prison terms.
The ATC announced its decisions amid stringent security measures both inside and outside the courtroom. In the case concerning the attack on a sensitive institution, 108 out of 185 accused were convicted, while the remaining were acquitted. In another May 9 case registered in Ghulam Mohammadabad, 58 out of 66 accused received 10-year sentences, with 8 individuals being acquitted. Collectively, 166 individuals were sentenced to 10 years in prison across these two cases.
Among other notable figures, Junaid Afzal Sahi received the shortest sentence of 3 years imprisonment.Conversely, the court acquitted Sial Castro, Fawad Chaudhry, and Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s son Zain Qureshi.
It’s worth noting that just a few days prior, the Anti-Terrorism Court had also convicted other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Ahmed Chattha, Ahmed Khan Bhachar, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, and Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, sentencing them to 10 years in prison in connection with the May 9 cases.
