Pakistan has put 108 members of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party in 2023 to join the protest against the army.
In May 2023, the security forces held violent protests in May 2023 after the security forces arrested Khan while appearing in court on corruption charges.
Officials have already handed over dozens of sentences in the last two years, but Thursday’s sentence-a 10-year term for opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan-a major setback for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Opponents have condemned decisions by the anti -terrorism court, which also disqualified six PTI MPs from their seats.
“For the first time in Pakistan’s judicial history, such a sad and shameful incident occurred that the leaders of the opposition in both houses [of parliament] It was completely punished on the grounds that he was a loyal ally of Imran Khan’s political story, public representation and constitutional conflict, “PTI wrote on X.
The party says it will challenge the decision.
The AFP news agency said that Khan’s media advisor Zulfi Bukhari said the latest sentences indicated “a Black Day for Democracy”.
Bukhari said, “To blame opposition leaders one after the other is not a good omen for any democratic system, and it will severely damage our already delicate democracy.”
Khan has been imprisoned since an international cricket star in the east since August 2023, but is extremely popular in Pakistan.
He is still facing over 150 allegations from terrorism to leaking of state’s secrets, which he and his supporters have reduced everyone as being politically motivated.
After his arrest on 9 May 2023, there were violent clashes between security forces and Khan’s supporters, in which thousands of his supporters saw government buildings and military establishments. At least ten people were killed in the protests, inspiring the officials to tighten the Khan’s party.
During the National Assembly elections in 2024, PTI members, who run as independent candidates, won the most seats, but were blocked by forming the government.
