ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Tuesday sentenced three prominent members of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, including the leader of the opposition in Punjab’s provincial assembly, to 10 years in prison over their alleged involvement in violent anti-government protests in May 2023.

The court in the city of Sargodha convicted Ahmed Khan Bachar, opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly, along with federal lawmakers Ahmed Chattha and Bilal Ejaz. Several other PTI supporters were also sentenced in connection with the unrest.

The protests erupted after former Prime Minister Imran Khan, founder of PTI and Pakistan’s most popular opposition figure, was arrested by paramilitary forces in Islamabad on May 9, 2023.

The arrest triggered nationwide demonstrations, some of which turned violent, including attacks on military installations and public property. In response, the government launched a sweeping crackdown, arresting thousands of PTI members and supporters. Dozens were charged under anti-terrorism laws, and some cases were referred to military courts.

“Yes, it’s true,” Zulfi Bukhari, a close aide to Khan and former federal minister, told Arab News. “The ATC judge announced 10 years sentence for opposition leader Punjab Assembly and two others. MNAs Ahmed Chatha and Bilal Ejaz’s names weren’t even in supplementary documents but the judge sentenced them anyway.”

The PTI has denounced the ruling, calling it politically motivated and part of a broader campaign to dismantle the party through legal and administrative pressure.

The sentencing comes amid heightened tensions in Pakistan’s largest province, where PTI-aligned lawmakers have clashed repeatedly with the ruling coalition.

In recent weeks, 26 PTI legislators in Punjab’s provincial assembly were suspended by Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan for disorderly conduct during the annual budget session. The speaker also suggested that further disqualifications could be pursued on grounds of violating parliamentary decorum.

Meanwhile, Imran Khan remains imprisoned on a range of charges, all of which he has dismissed as fabricated and politically driven. The party suffered another blow last month when Pakistan’s Supreme Court upheld a ruling that stripped PTI of its reserved seats for women and minorities, significantly weakening its legislative presence at both national and provincial levels.

The government, however, defended the court’s decision on Tuesday. Minister of State for Law and Justice Aqeel Malik said the proceedings followed all constitutional procedures.

“The court had listened to all the witnesses and recorded their statements,” he told reporters.

“Subsequently, they were also cross-examined. Both sides gave their closing statements and today the verdict that was announced is according to the constitution and law.”