RAWALPINDI: In a major legal development regarding the May 9 GHQ attack case, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi announced its verdict after completing the trial of 47 proclaimed offenders.
Presided over by District and Sessions Judge Amjad Ali Shah, the court sentenced each of the 47 accused to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment alongside an order for the confiscation of their properties.
According to the details shared by media outlets today, the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) identified these individuals as key conspirators and planners behind the violent riots that targeted military and state installations.
The prominent political figures convicted in absentia include Omar Ayub, Zartaj Gul, Murad Saeed, Shibli Faraz, Hammad Azhar, Shahbaz Gill, Zulfi Bukhari, Kanwal Shauzab, and Sheikh Rashid Shafiq.
The prosecution successfully recorded the statements of 19 witnesses specifically for the absconder trial, bringing the overall total of recorded prosecution witness statements to 44 out of 118 total indicted individuals.
The court observed that the accused were directly linked to orchestrating attacks on critical defense zones, including the GHQ Gate No. 1, Hamza Camp, and the Army Museum, as well as severe acts of arson, vandalism, clashes with police forces, and destruction of public infrastructure.
Out of the 118 total accused in the case, records show that 18 remained continuously absent during proceedings, while 29 never appeared before the court since the initial registration of the case.
Legal experts point out that while the verdict marks a strict enforcement under the Anti-Terrorism Act, the convicts retain the legal right to a retrial on merit if they surrender to authorities.
Overview of the May 9th Attacks by PTI Workers
The events of 9th May mark one of the most turbulent chapters in Pakistan’s recent political history, triggered instantly by the unexpected arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan from the Islamabad High Court premises in 2023.
Within hours of the detention, spontaneous and highly organized protests erupted nationwide, rapidly escalating into aggressive confrontations with law enforcement.
Thousands of angry party workers and loyalists flooded major thoroughfares, eventually breaching highly sensitive civil and military installations.
Key state symbols, including the Corps Commander House in Lahore and the General Headquarters (GHQ) gates in Rawalpindi, suffered extensive vandalism, arson, and destruction, causing profound shock across the political landscape.
State authorities responded with a sweeping crackdown, arresting thousands of participants and initiating strict anti-terrorism legal proceedings against the party’s core leadership and grassroots supporters alike.
While party representatives maintain that the legal actions are politically motivated and part of systemic pressure, the judiciary continues to deliver landmark verdicts, holding organizers accountable for orchestrating widespread institutional damage and civil unrest.
ATC Sentences 47 PTI Leaders, Workers to 10 Years in May 9 GHQ Attack Case
The video provides visual news coverage and detailed context regarding the Anti-Terrorism Court’s verdict sentencing 47 proclaimed offenders to 10 years in prison over the May 9 GHQ attack case.
