An anti -terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad sentenced PTI members on Friday, including the member of the National Assembly (MNA) Abdul Latif, 27 years in prison for attacking a police station during the violent disturbances on May 9.
On May 9, 2023, PTI supporters, protesting the arrest of the founder of the Imran Khan party, organized violent protests throughout the country, destroying military facilities and state buildings, while attacked the residence of the commander of Lahore’s body. After the riots, thousands of protesters, including party leaders, were arrested.
Judge ATC Special Court-II Tahir Abbas Sipra issued the punishment under different sections of the Pakistan Criminal Code after finding the defendant guilty of attacking the Ramna Police Station during the disturbances of May 9.
The defendants were sentenced to a total of 27 years in prison together with a fine of RS327,000. The sentences will be executed simultaneously, said the judge.
MNA Abdul Latif, who was chosen from Na-1 Chitral, was not present in the Court when the verdict was announced. The legislator will be disqualified for five years after the conviction.
The judge told the defendant that 20 witnesses, including the magistrates and registered their testimonies against them, pointing out that the protests should remain peacefully and that the participants should never take the law in their own hands.
“They accuse you of attacking the Ramna Police Station in Islamabad. If you attack your own police stations, the country will no longer habitable,” said the judge.
A case had been registered against the defendants at the Ramna Police Station in several sections for crimes, including motorcycle burning and police personnel attacking.
After the verdict, the police took the four defendants present in the Court, namely Khan, Muhammad Akram, Shahzeb and Sohail Khan, in custody. The court also issued arrest orders for other PTI supporters accused of participation in the disturbances, but were absent from the court.
The sentences varied from ten years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of RS200,000 by terrorism provisions by virtue of section 7 of the Anti -Terrorist Law, five years in prison and a fine of RS50,000 for the murderous attack on the police under section 324 (murder attempt) of the PPC.
In addition, the defendants were sentenced to four years in prison and fined with RS40,000 for burning a motorcycle under section 426 (punishment for mischief); and a separate sentence of four years in prison and a fine of RS40,000 under section 440 (pranks committed after the preparation to cause death or wound) to destroy a police station.
A three -month prison sentence was imposed for interfering with the police work under Section 186 (obstructing the public servant in the performance of public functions), one month for violating section 144 (joining an illegal assembly armed with a mortal weapon), and two years to commit a group in a group under section 149 (each member of the illegal assembly of a guide of the guide of the assembly of the assembly of the assembly of the assembly of the assembly of the assembly of the assembly of the assembly of the assembly of the assembly of the assembly of the assembly of the assembly committed offensive).
Prosecutor Raja Naveed conducted the testimony and interrogation against the accused.
In December 2024, the military courts had sentenced 85 civilians to prison terms that went from two to 10 years for their participation in violent attacks in military facilities during the disturbances of May 9.
The wing of the military media said in a statement that the judgments of the accused of the disturbances of May 9 in military custody had been “concluded according to the relevant laws”, and the “convicts retained the right to appeal and other legal resources, as guaranteed by the Constitution and the law.”
Imran’s nephew, Hassan Khan Niazi, who was delivered to military custody in August 2023, was one of the two people sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
The Army Press Wing later announced 19 civilians convicted of their participation in the riots were granted forgiveness. He said that the petitions of mercy of 19 convicts were accepted for “humanitarian reasons.”
