ISLAMABAD: The Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, fears that at least 39 members of parliament can be disqualified in the May 9 cases.

According to the PTI chairman, 25 members in the Punjab Assembly, 11 members in the National Assembly, and 3 members of the Senate might be convicted in the May 9 cases, resulting in their disqualification from their seats.

The numbers can go higher if members are convicted in November 26 cases, he said, while adding that all PTI members in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly are also under threat of similar actions

“There is no parliamentarian, including myself, who does not face a case,” Gohar said as he is facing six cases.

Barrister Gohar criticised restrictions imposed on the party, saying that they were not allowed to hold a public gathering at D-Chowk, and were instead directed to conduct it at Sangjani.

The statement came at a time when the Anti-Terrorist Courts (ATC) are announcing the decisions of the May 9 cases.

Opposition Leader Punjab Assembly

Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmed Bhachar was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the May 9 case.

The Sargodha Anti-Terrorism Court sentenced 70 accused to 10 years in prison in the May 9 case.

The Sargodha Anti-Terrorism Court has also sentenced MNA Ahmed Chatta to ten years in prison.

It should be noted that most of the accused in the Mianwali riot and vandalism case are out on bail.

On May 9, 2023, a case was filed in Mianwali for vandalism and riots in response to protests sparked by the arrest of PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a corruption case.

According to the report, the sentence against the accused was pronounced in case number 72/2023, which was registered in the Musakhel area of ​​Mianwali district.

The case was registered under the provisions of anti-terrorism for vandalism, arson and rioting.

Malik Ahmed Khan Bachhar is likely to be disqualified and de-seated after his conviction.

ATC sentenced PTI leaders

The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Tuesday sentenced several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Dr Yasmin Rashid and Mian Mahmood-ur-Rasheed, to 10 years in prison each in a May 9 case.

The court also sentenced former Punjab Governor Umar Sarfraz Cheema, PTI leader Senator Ijaz Chaudhry and Afzal Azeem Pahar in the same case. The verdict was earlier reserved and was announced by the ATC today.

Meanwhile, the court acquitted former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the same case. Those acquitted include Hamza Azeem Pahar, Rana Tanveer and Aizaz Rafique.

The latest verdict has dealt another blow to the party founded by Imran Khan as earlier today, another ATC in Sargodha sentenced Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Ahmed Khan Bachar, MNA Muhammad Ahmed Chatha and several other PTI workers to 10 years in prison each in a vandalism case related to the May 9 riots.

The case was registered in Mianwali for vandalism and rioting related to the protests that began on May 9, 2023, following the arrest of PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a corruption case.