ATC sentences Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz to 10 years in Rana Sanaullah house attack case
FAISALABAD – In a major development in the May 9 riots cases, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) sentenced Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz, along with several other senior PTI leaders, to 10 years in jail for their alleged involvement in the attack on the residence of former interior minister Rana Sanaullah.
The verdict, announced on Monday by ATC Judge Javed Iqbal in Faisalabad, comes as part of the May 9, 2023 cases, which erupted following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan. According to court proceedings, PTI leaders including Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul, Kanwal Shauzab, Ahmad Chattha, Rai Hassan Nawaz, Ansar Iqbal, and Bilal Ejaz were handed down 10-year prison terms.
PTI MPAs Ismail Sillah and Shahid Javed were also convicted and given 10-year sentences.
However, in a partial relief for the party, the court acquitted PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry and Zain Qureshi, citing insufficient evidence against them.
The case was registered at Samanabad Police Station in Faisalabad, specifically related to the attack on Rana Sanaullah’s house during the violent May 9 protests. Out of a total of 109 accused individuals, 75 were convicted while 34 were acquitted. Among those convicted, 59 received 10 years in prison and 16 others were sentenced to 3 years each.
Earlier, on July 22, an ATC in Lahore had sentenced other senior PTI leaders, including Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, and Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, to 10 years imprisonment in a separate May 9-related arson case. Shah Mahmood Qureshi was acquitted in that instance.
The latest ruling highlights the widening legal challenges faced by PTI leadership as dozens of senior figures continue to face trials across Pakistan in connection with the May 9 violence.
It may be recalled that following Imran Khan’s arrest in 2023, violent protests swept across the country, with PTI workers storming streets in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, and Balochistan. Army installations, including the Corps Commander’s House in Lahore, were attacked, leading to the deployment of armed forces in multiple regions to restore law and order.
The ATC’s sentencing of Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz is now being viewed as a landmark verdict in the state’s crackdown against political violence. The court also convicted former Punjab Governor Umar Sarfraz Cheema, alongside several others, in similar cases tied to the May 9 unrest.
With today’s decision, the May 9 saga continues to reshape Pakistan’s political landscape, as PTI leaders brace for lengthy prison terms while some prominent names, like Fawad Chaudhry and Zain Qureshi, manage to secure acquittals.
Stay updated with MegaNews.tv for the latest developments on Pakistan’s political trials, court verdicts, and the future of PTI leadership.
