22-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Pakistan jails 8 from former PM Imran Khan's party over 2023 riots
A Pakistani anti-terrorism court sentenced eight senior members of former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party to 10 years in prison late on Tuesday over riots that targeted military sites following Khan's 2023 arrest, their lawyer said.
Khan is on trial on similar charges, being tried separately. The government accuses him and other leaders of inciting the May 9, 2023, protests, during which demonstrators attacked military and government buildings, including the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and the residence of a senior commander in Lahore.
The prosecution is still presenting witnesses in Khan's proceedings, and Tuesday's verdict does not directly affect his case.
The sentences, issued in a prison trial in Lahore, are among a series of prosecutions involving Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Defence lawyer Burhan Moazzam said they would appeal.
'It is surprising that six people were acquitted while eight were convicted, even though they were all charged under the same allegations,' he said.
The case relates to one of several incidents stemming from the May 9 unrest, involving alleged incitement during attacks near a major intersection in Lahore. Moazzam said separate trials were continuing in connection with other incidents that day.
