In a sweeping move that underscores Pakistan’s ongoing political turmoil, an anti-terrorism court has sentenced 108 members of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to prison for their involvement in protests against the military in 2023.
The convictions, announced on Thursday, include a 10-year prison term for senior opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan. Six PTI lawmakers were also disqualified from their seats. These developments mark one of the most significant legal setbacks for PTI since the arrest of Imran Khan last year.
The violent protests erupted in May 2023 after Khan was detained by security forces during a court appearance on corruption charges. The unrest saw thousands of his supporters take to the streets, storming government buildings and military facilities. At least ten people were killed in the clashes.
### Opposition Decries Sentencing
PTI leaders have condemned the court rulings, calling them politically motivated and undemocratic. In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), the party said:
“For the first time in Pakistan’s judicial history, such a sad and shameful incident occurred that the leaders of the opposition in both houses were punished solely on the basis that they were loyal allies of Imran Khan’s political narrative, public representation, and constitutional struggle.”
The party also confirmed it plans to challenge the verdicts through legal channels.
Zulfi Bukhari, a senior PTI figure and media advisor to Khan, called the sentencing “a black day for democracy.” Speaking to AFP, he warned that convicting opposition leaders in succession would “seriously damage our already fragile democracy.”
# Imran Khan Remains Jailed, Popular
Khan, a former international cricket star turned populist politician, has been in prison since August 2023. Despite his incarceration and facing more than 150 charges—including terrorism and leaking state secrets—he remains widely popular across Pakistan.
Khan and his supporters have consistently argued that the legal cases against him are part of a politically driven campaign to sideline him from power.
In the 2024 National Assembly elections, PTI candidates—running as independents due to a party ban—won the most seats. However, they were ultimately blocked from forming a government, deepening concerns about the erosion of democratic processes in the country.
The latest wave of convictions further heightens political tensions and raises alarm among human rights advocates and international observers about the state of democracy and judicial independence in Pakistan.
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