Lahore:
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) of Sargodha condemned the leaders and supporters of the PTI, including the head of the opposition to the Punjab assembly, Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachar, at 10 years in prison each on Tuesday.
They were found guilty of participation in the creation of disturbances of public order, anarchy and a criminal fire during the riots of May 9, which broke out after the arrest of the founder of the PTI, Imran Khan.
The ATC judge rendered the verdict after hearing detailed arguments and concluded that the accusation had established his case. Defense councils argued that the accused was not involved in the charges against them, saying that it was case of political motivation. They also declared that no substantial evidence was available to connect their customers to the offenses described in the FIR.
However, the accusation has by presenting concrete evidence establishing the accused’s involvement. They argued that the defendants had prompted public disorders, leading to violent incidents across the country.
The FIR included charges related to anti -terrorist laws linked to vandalism, the criminal fire and encouraging riots during demonstrations that followed the arrest of Imran Khan.
According to legal proceedings, the accused was found guilty of harming public property, set fire to buildings and cause unrest.
The ATC pronounced the sentence after an in -depth examination of evidence, witness declarations and police reports.
The deputy chief of the opposition of the PTI in the Punjab assembly, Moeen Riaz Qureshi, qualified the sentences pronounced by the ATC court as the “dark day of democracy”, declaring that the legislators, including the head of the opposition of the greatest province, were condemned illegally on the basis of fabricated evidence and witnesses.
He stressed that each child in Pakistan is aware of the fate of these cases and that the public is fully informed of the conduct of the court. PTI will dispute the decision of the ATC court before the Court of Appeal. Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, the opposition chief, will continue to serve as a leader in the opposition in the future.
The chief whip of PTI in the Punjab assembly, Rana Shahbaz Ahmad, said that such decisions would not force them to bow, while they remain firm for a cause and the future of the nation.
