May 9 riots
An Anti-Terrorism Court on Wednesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders, including Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, and others, in connection with their alleged involvement in the May 9 riots.
The court issued the warrants after these leaders failed to appear in a case filed at the Civil Lines Police Station. Non-bailable arrest warrants were also issued for PTI leader Kanwal Shauzab and former PTI member Fawad Chaudhry.
PTI Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Junaid Afzal Sahi, who along with Khayal Ahmad Kastro, had been declared an absconder for not appearing in court, informed the court that a review petition had been filed, which was adjourned by the judge.
The case involves allegations that PTI leaders incited violence, including setting a police van on fire, and encouraging arson during the riots. Arrest warrants were issued after these leaders failed to attend the previous hearings.
This development is part of the ongoing legal issues faced by PTI, including its founder Imran Khan and other senior figures like Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who are involved in multiple cases stemming from the May 9 violence.
The riots occurred after Khan’s arrest in a corruption case, during which an angry mob attacked military installations across the country.
The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, the caretaker administration, and the current government under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have accused PTI of orchestrating the riots—a claim PTI strongly denies.
Following the violent events, individuals involved in the May 9 riots were tried in military courts. A total of 85 people, including Imran Khan’s nephew Hassan Khan Niazi, were sentenced to prison terms ranging from two to ten years. Of the 67 who filed mercy petitions, 19 have been pardoned.
PTI has strongly criticized these convictions, calling them “a blatant violation of justice,” as they argue that civilians should not be tried in military courts.
The May 9 riots have remained a major issue in PTI’s ongoing negotiations with the government. PTI is demanding the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the events leading to Khan’s arrest.
Additionally, the party is calling for inquiries into the November protest in Islamabad and the treatment of individuals arrested for their alleged involvement in the May 9 riots, including their conditions of detention and any potential human rights violations.
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