Faisalabad: In another blow to the Imran Khan-founded party, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Faisalabad on Monday sentenced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Omar Ayub Khan, Syed Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul Wazir, and others to 10 years in prison for their involvement in the attack on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart Rana Sanaullah Khan's residence during the May 9, 2023 riots.
The court, while announcing its verdict in a case registered at the Samanabad Police Station, sentenced a total of 75 people out of the total 109 accused and acquitted 34 others.
Out of those sentenced, 59 were given 10-year imprisonment including Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, Rai Murtaza Iqbal, Farah Afgha, Kanwal Shauzab, Rai Hassan Nawaz, Muhammad Ahmad Chattha, Ansar Iqbal, Chaudhry Bilal Ijaz, Ashraf Sohna, Chaudhry Asif Ali, Haji Ismail Sela, Mehr Javed, Shakeel Niazi and others.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Shahid Javed and other PTI workers were given a three-year prison sentence. 59 accused including 17 leaders were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and 16 accused were awarded three years imprisonment sentence.
The development adds to the mounting legal woes faced by the Imran Khan-founded PTI, which has seen scores of leaders getting prison sentences over the May 9 riots while several others, including the former prime minister, remain behind bars in a plethora of cases.
Earlier this month, an ATC in Lahore sentenced PTI's Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Senator Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, former Punjab governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and several others to 10 years in prison.
Also, the court, in the Jinnah House case, sentenced Rashid, Cheema, Chaudhry, Rasheed, Ayesha Ali Bhutta, Muhammad Fahim, Niaz Ahmed, Ali Hasan, Zain Ali, Asad Ali, Bilal Wajahat, Bilal Bashir, Muhammad Qasim, and Zain ul Hassan to 10 years each in prison.
However, the ATC exonerated Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Sohail Khan, Muhammad Owais, Rafiuddin, Farid Khan, Salman Ahmed, Abdul Qadir, Faizan, Tayyab Sultan, Shahid Baig and Majid Ali.
Last week, PTI founder's nephews Shershah and Shahrez - sons of Aleema Khan - were arrested over their alleged involvement in the May 9 riots.