Malik Ahmed Bhachar removed as Opposition Leader PA amid disqualification

LAHORE: Amid Disqualification from the Election Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachar has been removed from the office of Opposition Leader Punjab Assembly.

A notification has been issued by the Punjab Assembly Secretariat for the removal of Malik Ahmed Khan.

Earlier, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Faisalabad on Thursday delivered verdicts in several May 9 cases, sentencing accused, including senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, to imprisonment.

According to the details, the court has sentenced the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Omar Aub, the Leader of Opposition in the Senate, Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul, and other party leadership to ten years in prison in a case registered at the Civil Lines Police Station, Faisalabad.

MNA Sahibzada Hamid Raza and former MNA Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, among 108 accused, were also handed a 10-year jail term.

In addition to that, the court also acquitted 77 accused, including MNA Makhdoom Zain Qureshi, former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry, and others.

In another case registered at Ghulam Muhammadabad Police Station, the court sentenced 60 people, while 7 were acquitted, including MPA Khayal Ahmad Kastro and Fawad Chaudhry.

MPA Junaid Afzal Sahi was given a three-year sentence in the Ghulam Muhammadabad Police Station case.

The verdicts were announced in cases registered in the aftermath of the May 9, 2023, riots happened followed the arrest of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan.