FAISALABAD: A court in Faisalabad today awarded 10-year jail to top PTI leaders, including Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul, Kanwal Shozeb and Rashid Shafiq, and Farah Agha. The court announced the reserved verdict today.
The PTI leaders were awarded 10 years ‘ imprisonment in a case about the attack on the residence of PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah in Faisalabad.
The court, nonetheless, acquitted Fawad Chaudhry and Zain Qureshi, son of Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in this case.
Local lawmakers Sheikh Shahid Javed (PP-115) and Ismail Sila (PP-116) were also awarded 10 years in jail.
The court acquitted 34 accused in the case, while 14 local workers received three-year sentences. Among those convicted are two sitting members of the Punjab Assembly from PTI.
Fourteen accused were sentenced to three years in prison, while 34 others were acquitted in the case.
Shibli Faraz, Omar Ayub, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq and Kanwal Shauzab were handed 10 years in jail each.
Zartaj Gul, Ahmed Chattha and Bilal Ejaz also received 10-year prison terms.
Ashraf Sohna and Farakhanda Kokab were likewise sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Earlier, an anti-terrorism court announced its verdict in two May 9 arson cases, conducting proceedings inside Kot Lakhpat Jail under strict security.
ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul delivered the reserved judgments in cases linked to the arson incidents outside Rahat Bakery and at Shadman Police Station.
The court sentenced Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, and Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed to 10 years in prison each, while Sanam Javed and Aliya Hamza were given five-year sentences.
Former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was acquitted in both cases.
PHC halts action against PTI leaders
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday intervened to temporarily halt the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from taking further action against senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Shibli Faraz and Omar Ayub, who were recently disqualified from their parliamentary positions by the commission.
The ECP had issued disqualification notifications on Tuesday, removing Shibli Faraz from his role as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and Omar Ayub from his position as Opposition Leader in the National Assembly. The commission also disqualified other prominent PTI-affiliated figures, including former MNA Zartaj Gul and Sunni Ittehad Council chief Hamid Raza, citing their convictions in cases connected to the May 9, 2023, riots.
The riots erupted across Pakistan last year after PTI supporters launched violent protests following the arrest of party founder Imran Khan. Protesters attacked military installations, vandalized state-owned properties, and stormed the residence of the Lahore corps commander.
In the aftermath, thousands of PTI leaders and workers were arrested, many of whom now face long prison sentences. An anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad recently sentenced over 100 PTI leaders and workers to jail terms ranging from several years to a decade. Faraz, Ayub, and Zartaj Gul were among those convicted.
More details to follow……….
