SARGODHA; An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Sargodha has issued arrest warrants for 51 individuals, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly, Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, in connection with the violent incidents of May 9 in Mianwali.
The court proceedings pertain to multiple cases of rioting, vandalism, arson, and the siege of government buildings that erupted across the country following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan last year. In Mianwali, a particularly violent protest unfolded at the Judicial Complex, leading to significant damage and chaos. Authorities had registered cases against 57 named individuals, while 150 others were listed as unknown suspects.
During the latest hearing, none of the nominated accused appeared before the ATC despite repeated summons. As a result, the court ordered the arrest of prominent PTI figures, including Ahmad Khan Bhachar, Bilal Ejaz, Ahmad Chattha, and several others.
Furthermore, the court has initiated legal proceedings to declare PTI Secretary General and Member National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan as a proclaimed offender due to his continued absence despite being repeatedly summoned.
The court also recorded evidence in four separate cases related to the May 9 unrest and adjourned the proceedings until July 29, issuing fresh summons to the accused.
The May 9 events marked a turning point in Pakistan’s political crisis, with widespread protests escalating into attacks on military and state infrastructure. The crackdown on PTI workers and leadership has intensified since, with dozens facing terrorism charges. The Mianwali incident remains one of the most high-profile cases, and legal proceedings are now entering a decisive phase with the issuance of arrest warrants for key party leaders.
