An Anti-Terrorism Court in Sargodha sentenced Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachar and 32 PTI workers to 10 years in prison each.
Judge Muhammad Naeem Sheikh announced the verdict after hearing nine separate cases related to the May 9 riots.
The convicted leaders include Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachar, MNA Rana Bilal, and MNA Ahmed Chattha. Authorities registered the cases at Musa Khel police station. These cases involved violent protests and vandalism in Mianwali following PTI founder Imran Khan’s arrest in a graft case.
The ATC held Bhachar and others responsible for participating in the unrest. Protesters targeted state institutions and destroyed public property. Moreover, violent clashes erupted across Pakistan on May 9, 2023, after Imran Khan’s arrest. PTI workers staged protests in both major and remote cities.
Due to the violence, security forces are deployed across Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad. The unrest escalated as PTI workers attacked army installations, including the Corps Commander’s house in Lahore. Furthermore, authorities named PTI founder Imran Khan as the main accused in all May 9 cases.
The court’s decision came at a time when opposition MPAs disrupted a Punjab Assembly session on June 27, 2025, and damaged property. Consequently, Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan suspended the membership of 26 SIC lawmakers.
On June 28, the speaker forwarded the matter to the Election Commission of Pakistan for possible disqualification of these members. The suspended members include Malik Fahad Masood, Muhammad Tanvir Aslam, Syed Riffat Mehmood, Yasir Mehmood Qureshi, and others.
Earlier, the court granted exemption from personal appearance to all 32 accused, including Bhachar. Despite this, PTI lawyers and supporters rejected the ruling, calling it unfair and politically motivated.
Talking to a private channel, Bhachar said, “The court has ruled against me in a politically driven case that completely deviates from the Constitution. This decision was pronounced without following due legal process. Once I receive the written verdict, I will immediately approach the High Court.”
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