Eight Former PM Imran Khan's Party Members Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Riots

JAKARTA - Pakistan's anti-terrorism court sentenced eight senior members of the former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party on Tuesday night to riots targeting military locations following Khan's arrest in 2023, their lawyers said.

Khan was tried on similar charges, tried separately. The government accused him and other leaders of inciting protests on May 9, 2023, in which demonstrators attacked military and government buildings, including the headquarters of soldiers in Rawalpindi and the residence of a senior commander in Lahore.

Prosecutors are still presenting witnesses at Khan's trial, and Tuesday's ruling did not directly affect his case.

The sentence imposed in a prison trial in Lahore is part of a series of demands involving Khan's Pakistan party Tereek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Meanwhile, the lawyers for the defendants Burhan Moazzam said they would file an appeal.

"Shocking that six people have been released while eight people have been convicted, even though they have all been charged with the same charges," he said.

The case relates to one of several incidents that stemmed from the May 9 riots, which involved alleged incitement to an attack near a major intersection in Lahore.

Moazzam said a separate trial was ongoing over another incident that day.

Those sentenced included senior PTI figures who hold positions in theft government, such as Yasmin Rashid, former provincial health minister; Ejaz Chaudhry, a senator; Mehmoodur Rashid, former housing minister; and Umar Sarfraz Cheema, former provincial governor and aide to Khan.

The court also acquitted PTI Deputy Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi who was detained in connection with other cases, and it is not yet clear whether the release will lead to his release.

Responding to the ruling, Deputy Minister of Law Aqeel Malik told local media the decision was "in accordance with the law and constitution."

Meanwhile, Khan, who was ousted through a motion of distrust in 2022, is still in prison and faces various cases, including allegations of corruption, insults to the government, and disclosure of state secrets.

He denied wrongdoing and said the cases were politically motivated. On the other hand, the military denies targeting PTI.

Authorities say the May 9 violence caused billions of dollars in losses and caused more than 3,000 people to be arrested in THE drum.