Former Prime Minister of AJK, Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi, taken into custody under Section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order Act.
In a series of rulings, the special anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad has handed down sentences to several leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in connection with the violent protests that erupted on May 9, 2023. The protests were in response to the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan outside the Islamabad High Court on graft charges.
One of the high-profile figures sentenced was Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi, the former Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and PTI's AJK President. Niazi was arrested in early August 2025 in the Samahni area, en route to deliver a speech at a PTI rally. He was detained under Section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), 1960, following orders from the local deputy commissioner.
Niazi's arrest warrants were directly linked to the May 9 violence cases, and he is also wanted by Islamabad police in a separate case related to protests on November 26, 2024, registered at Karachi Company Police Station.
The May 9 protests resulted in widespread violence, with reports of vandalism of military installations, state-owned buildings, and an attack on the Lahore corps commander's residence. These violent acts led to hundreds of cases being lodged against PTI leaders and supporters.
In one case registered at Ghulam Muhammadabad Police Station, the court sentenced 60 individuals, while seven of the 67 accused were acquitted. In another case at the Civil Lines Police Station, the court sentenced 28 out of 32 accused and acquitted four individuals.
The court also handed down a three-year jail term to Junaid Afzal Sahi in the aforementioned case. A total of 107 people were named in the case, of which 32 were tried. Among those acquitted are Fawad Chaudhry, Zain Qureshi, and Khayal Kastro.
In a separate case, the special anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad sentenced several PTI leaders, including Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul, and others to 10 years in prison each in a case related to the May 9 mayhem at the Civil Lines Police Station.
The court also sentenced 108 individuals out of 185 accused in the same case, including Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief MNA Sahibzada Hamid Raza.
Imran Khan, the deposed prime minister, has been behind bars since August 2023, facing charges ranging from corruption to terrorism. He was ousted from power via the opposition's no-confidence motion in April 2022.
These sentences and arrests reflect the ongoing state action against PTI members following multiple demonstrations, reflecting the tense political climate after Imran Khan's ousting and subsequent legal troubles.
- The sentencing of Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi, along with other PTI leaders, in connection with the May 9 violence, showcases the intersection of war-and-conflicts and politics in Pakistan, as these incidents led to hundreds of cases, extensive damage to properties, and notable figures being arrested.
- The ongoing legal cases against PTI leaders, such as Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi and Imran Khan himself, for crimes ranging from corruption to terrorism, are a significant part of the general news, crime-and-justice, and political landscape in the country, demonstrating the continued strife and instability in the post-ouster political climate.
