ISLAMABAD; leaders in the May 9 riots case, labeling the court verdicts as politically motivated, legally flawed, and lacking transparency. The party has announced it will challenge the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Sargodha’s decision in the High Court.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, PTI leaders expressed serious reservations over the legal process and termed the sentences as a direct assault on democratic values. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said, “There is already a long list of controversial decisions in Pakistan’s judicial history — this one has simply added to it. Legal procedures were ignored, and justice was denied. The public’s confidence in the institutions is being further eroded.”
He maintained that PTI had consistently demanded a transparent trial and a fair opportunity to present its defence, but the legal process was rushed and biased. “From the outset, the narrative was framed that a conspiracy had been orchestrated by the PTI founder. This claim became the basis for the entire case,” he added.
Party General Secretary Suleman Akram Raja revealed that only two witnesses were presented during the trial — one of whom allegedly hid under a chair during the events of May 9. “This entire case has been constructed on weak, fabricated grounds. This is not just a political issue — it is about the future of democracy in Pakistan,” Raja stated.
PTI Senator Babar Awan linked the current legal actions to earlier political developments, saying, “First came the cipher, then came midnight justice. We are now approaching the High Court to get these convictions overturned.”
Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram questioned the credibility of the witnesses and evidence. “One key witness wasn’t even present at the scene — he was on leave. Despite claims of damaged vehicles, not a single one was produced in court,” he argued.
He further criticized the treatment of senior party leader Dr. Yasmin Rashid, stating that she was taken from a hospital to jail despite her poor health. “The FIR was lodged against 400 people, but only 14 were put on trial,” he noted.
PTI has denounced the ATC verdict sentencing party leaders to 10 years in prison as one of the darkest moments in Pakistan’s judicial history, and is preparing to challenge it in the higher courts in the coming days.
