Overview

• An anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad convicted 108 members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf over the May 9, 2023 protests, handing 58 defendants maximum 10-year prison terms and shorter sentences of one to three years to the rest.
• Six sitting PTI lawmakers and one senator received 10-year sentences, triggering automatic disqualification under Pakistani law and further eroding the party’s representation in parliament.
• The July 31 verdict marks the third major wave of mass convictions this month against PTI figures accused of attacking military and government installations after Imran Khan’s arrest.
• PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan denounced the sentences as a blow to democracy and announced plans to challenge the rulings in higher courts.
• The party has called for nationwide protests starting August 5 to demand reversal of the convictions and the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.