SARGODHA / ISLAMABAD; In a significant legal development, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Sargodha on Tuesday sentenced Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, along with PTI Member of National Assembly (MNA) Mohammad Ahmed Chattha and several other party workers, to 10 years in prison. The case pertained to the May 9, 2023 riots that erupted following the arrest of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan in a corruption case.
The case was originally registered in Mianwali and centered around acts of vandalism and rioting during countrywide protests sparked by Khan’s arrest. These protests, some of the most violent in Pakistan’s recent political history, saw attacks on military installations — including the iconic General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi — as well as other state buildings.
Bachar was not present in court when the verdict was announced. The ruling further compounds PTI’s mounting legal and political troubles, as numerous senior leaders face trials in connection with the events of May 9.
Federal Minister of State for Law and Justice, Barrister Aqeel Malik, while addressing a press conference in Islamabad, welcomed the ATC’s decision, calling it a “positive step” toward upholding the rule of law. “The court has followed all legal procedures, and justice has been served,” Malik said. “It sends a clear message that no one is above the law — whether an MNA, MPA, or even the opposition leader.”
The minister confirmed that Bhachar, Chattha, and former MNA Bilal Ejaz were each handed 10-year prison terms. He expressed hope that other May 9-related cases would be concluded soon, noting that over 200 locations were targeted in what he termed a “pre-planned and coordinated” campaign of violence.
PTI leaders, however, have strongly denounced the verdict. In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Bhachar reaffirmed his loyalty to Imran Khan, stating he would not back down. PTI MNA and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser also condemned the sentences, arguing that the judicial process was flawed, no credible evidence was presented, and the decision violated basic principles of justice. He vowed that the party would challenge the ruling in the high court.
PTI’s South Punjab chapter also issued a scathing statement, rejecting the verdict as a product of political vendetta. “These sentences are not justice — they are vengeance. This is a blow to democracy, the judiciary, and the will of the people,” the statement read.
The convictions come at a time when tensions between PTI and the ruling PML-N in Punjab had appeared to ease. Just days earlier, Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan withdrew disqualification petitions against 26 opposition MPAs, citing successful negotiations. A notification issued by the assembly secretariat officially reinstated the suspended lawmakers.
Despite this thaw, Tuesday’s court ruling indicates that the legal fallout from the May 9 riots continues to shape the political landscape in Pakistan.
