FAISALABAD: A Faisalabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Kanwal Shouzeb, and former minister Fawad Chaudhry in connection with the violent events of May 9, 2023.
The case, registered at the Civil Lines Police Station in Faisalabad, accuses these PTI leaders and their supporters of inciting violence and vandalizing public property during protests sparked by the brief detention of party founder Imran Khan. Protesters allegedly set fire to a police vehicle outside the State Bank of Pakistan building, among other acts of destruction.
Judge Javed Iqbal Sheikh presided over the hearing and issued the warrants after the leaders failed to appear in court despite being summoned earlier. Pleas for exemption from the hearing, filed by the accused, were also denied by the court. The judge stated that cases involving these four leaders would now proceed separately from other accused individuals.
The May 9 riots marked one of Pakistan’s most significant episodes of political unrest in recent years, with demonstrators targeting state buildings and military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence. The violence led to a sweeping government crackdown on PTI leaders and supporters, with many facing legal action under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
Section 7 of the ATA criminalizes acts supporting terrorism, including the use or funding of property for such purposes. It also carries severe penalties for those found guilty of promoting or participating in such activities.
Authorities have claimed that the four PTI leaders played a key role in orchestrating the violence and have framed charges against other accused individuals who have been regularly attending court proceedings. The absence of Ayub, Faraz, Shouzeb, and Chaudhry has prompted the court to summon them repeatedly, leading to the issuance of arrest warrants.
Earlier, PTI founder Imran Khan sought post-arrest bail from the Lahore High Court in multiple cases related to the same events. However, authorities continue to intensify their legal pursuit of PTI leaders, arguing that accountability is necessary to prevent such incidents in the future.
The government has been criticized by opposition leaders and human rights organizations for what they allege is politically motivated action against the PTI. Despite these criticisms, the authorities remain firm in their stance, citing the scale of destruction during the May 9 protests as justification for their measures.
