Islamabad, Aug 02 (V7N) – In a sweeping verdict that has shocked Pakistan's political landscape, 108 leaders and activists of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) — the party led by imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan — have been sentenced to various prison terms for their alleged involvement in the violent protests of May 2023.

The convictions were handed down on Thursday by a special court, which found the accused guilty of participating in anti-army demonstrations following Khan’s arrest in a corruption case last year. Those protests escalated into nationwide violence, with army installations and government buildings targeted, leaving at least 10 people dead.

Among those sentenced, prominent opposition figure Omar Ayub Khan received a 10-year prison term, in what is being seen as a major blow to the opposition alliance backing Imran Khan. Additionally, six PTI lawmakers have been disqualified from holding parliamentary seats, further weakening the party’s institutional presence.

The PTI leadership swiftly condemned the ruling, calling it a blatant attack on democracy and political dissent. In a strongly worded statement, the party said:

“This is the first time in Pakistan’s judicial history that such a shameful incident has occurred — where opposition leaders are being punished simply for their loyalty to Imran Khan’s political ideology, public representation, and constitutional struggle.”

The party has vowed to challenge the verdict in higher courts and continue its legal and political resistance.

The ruling is the latest in a series of crackdowns on the PTI, which began following the May 2023 unrest and have since included arrests, disqualifications, media censorship, and the banning of political rallies. Many see this as part of a broader effort to sideline Imran Khan’s influence ahead of future elections.

Khan himself remains incarcerated, facing numerous legal cases, while maintaining that the charges against him are politically motivated.

END/RH/AJ