In a significant development, a Pakistani court has handed down five-year prison sentences to 51 supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party in connection with an attack and vandalism of two military installations. The incident, which occurred in May last year, involved assaults on several military sites, including an army base in Rawalpindi and an ISI building in Faisalabad.

The verdict, delivered by the Gujranwala Anti-Terrorism Court, marks the first legal action taken in relation to the riots that transpired following Imran Khan's arrest in a corruption case. Supporters of his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), expressed their discontent through acts of violence, resulting in casualties and injuries, including the loss of life of a party supporter in the Gujranwala area.

Among the accused in the case is Kalimullah Khan, a member of parliament representing PTI. Each of the 51 individuals sentenced by the court has also been fined 10,000 Pakistani rupees.

The sentencing comes amidst claims from PTI leaders that over 10,000 supporters of the party are currently detained in various jails across Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa without clear charges levied against them.

Imran Khan himself has been incarcerated since August last year, following his sentencing to 31 years in prison in three separate cases just ahead of the country's national elections on February 8. With over 200 cases reportedly filed against him, the former prime minister's legal challenges continue to mount as political tensions persist in Pakistan.