Pakistan Court Sentences 47 PTI Leaders to 10 Years in Jail Over May 9 Violenc

An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan has sentenced 47 leaders and supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party founded by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, to 10 years in prison each. In addition to the jail term, the court imposed a fine of 500,000 Pakistani rupees on each of the convicted individuals. The verdict was delivered in connection with a case related to the violent protests that took place on May 9, 2023. The protests erupted after Imran Khan was arrested in Islamabad. Following his arrest, supporters of PTI launched demonstrations across the country. Many of these protests turned violent, leading to incidents of vandalism and damage to public property. During the unrest, some protesters reportedly attempted to enter the General Headquarters (GHQ), Rawalpindi, the main headquarters of the Pakistani military. Several government properties were also damaged during the demonstrations. The verdict was delivered by Judge Amjad Ali Shah, who pronounced the decision in the absence of the accused after they repeatedly failed to appear in court despite multiple summons. Meanwhile, Imran Khan is currently lodged in Adiala Jail and is facing several legal cases. He has already been sentenced to 17 years in prison in a corruption case.