Pakistan Court Jails Four Imran Khan Party Leaders for 10 Years, Ex-Foreign Minister Qureshi Acquitted

A Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Saturday sentenced four senior leaders of former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to 10 years in prison for their role in the violence that erupted following Khan's arrest in 2023, while acquitting former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi due to lack of evidence.

The verdict stems from the nationwide unrest that broke out on May 9, 2023 , after Khan was arrested in a corruption case. The arrest triggered some of the most intense political protests Pakistan had witnessed in years, with demonstrators storming and vandalising military installations, government buildings and public property across the country. The violence marked a turning point in Pakistan's political crisis and led to a sweeping crackdown on Khan's supporters and party leaders.

The case heard by the court was linked to an attack on police vehicles in Lahore's Mughalpura area during the protests. Delivering the reserved verdict, Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Manzer Ali Gill convicted former Punjab governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema , former Punjab health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid , former Punjab minister Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed , and former senator Ejaz Chaudhry .

According to the prosecution, the four leaders played a role in inciting and participating in the violence that resulted in police vehicles being attacked and set ablaze. All four have been lodged in Kot Lakhpat Jail since 2023 and have previously received sentences in other cases related to the May 9 riots .

In a relief for the opposition party, the court acquitted Qureshi and 11 other PTI workers, ruling that the evidence presented against them was insufficient. However, Qureshi remains in custody as he faces several other cases.

The latest verdict adds to the legal troubles confronting PTI and its founder Imran Khan , who has been lodged in Adiala Jail since August 2023 in connection with multiple cases. The former cricket star-turned-politician remains one of Pakistan's most influential opposition figures despite his imprisonment.

Rejecting the ruling, PTI described the case as politically motivated and questioned the credibility of the judicial process. The party argued that several individuals implicated in May 9-related cases were not even present in Pakistan at the time of the violence and alleged that the accused were denied a free and fair trial .

In a strongly worded statement, PTI claimed the proceedings took place under political pressure and reflected a broader campaign to weaken political opponents through legal action. The party said it would challenge the verdict through all available legal and constitutional avenues.

The ruling is the latest chapter in the long-running fallout from the May 9 riots , an episode that continues to shape Pakistan's political landscape more than three years after the violence shook the country.