An anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad on Thursday announced its verdict in three cases related to the May 9 violence.

Cases were filed against 185 workers and leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for arson and clashes with law enforcement personnel.

The court sentenced 108 Pakistan PTI workers and leaders. The top leadership has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, while some leaders have been acquitted.

According to the ruling, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, Senator Shibli Faraz, Sunni Ittehad Council chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Sheikh Rashid’s nephew Rashid Shafiq, Rai Hassan Nawaz, Kanwal Shozaib, and former federal minister Zartaj Gul have each been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

These leaders were charged with attacks on state institutions, incitement and vandalism.

The court sentenced a total of 58 defendants to 10 years in prison.

The court also sentenced Punjab Assembly Member Junaid Afzal Sahi to three years in prison. He was accused of being involved in arson and riots.

On the other hand, the court acquitted former federal ministers Fawad Chaudhry, Zain Qureshi and Khyal Ahmed Castro in the Ghulam Muhammadabad police station attack case.

The court maintained that there was insufficient evidence against the three leaders, and they were given the benefit of the doubt.

In this case, 60 accused were sentenced to 10 years in prison each, while seven were acquitted.

Those acquitted included Sikandar Saleem, Shahzad Anwar, Saeed Iqbal and Mian Muhammad Arshad.

Those convicted included Owais Akbar, Tahir Javed, Sabir Ali, Muhammad Mohsin, Ali Raza, Mubasher Ali, Noman Jamil, Samiullah, Muhammad Shafiq and Shahzad Ilyas Sajid.

It should be remembered that in the recent past, jail sentences have been handed down by various courts for the violent protests of May 9, 2023, which erupted after the arrest of Imran Khan on May 9.

These protests resulted in damage to government and military buildings. Anti-terrorism cases were filed in several cities about these incidents.

These protests resulted in damage to government and military buildings. Anti-terrorism cases were filed in several cities related to these incidents.

During this protest, not only the PML-N office and Corps Commander’s House in Lahore were set on fire, but the main gate of GHQ in Rawalpindi was also stormed.

Government, military and private properties were damaged across the country in protests during which at least eight people were killed and 290 injured.

Mass arrests were made against those involved in the protests, and approximately 1,900 people were detained, including key PTI leaders.