Thu Jul 31 16:02:57 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Pakistani Opposition Leader, Hundreds of Khan Supporters, Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison**
**Lahore, Pakistan – July 31, 2025** – A Pakistani court in Faisalabad, Punjab province, has sentenced opposition leader Omar Ayub and 196 supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan to 10 years in prison each. The sentences are related to the violent riots that erupted nationwide following Khan’s arrest in May 2023.
The convictions, announced Thursday, stem from attacks on military officers, government buildings, and vehicles during the 2023 unrest. Among those convicted are at least six members of the National Assembly and a senator from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Defense lawyer Changaiz Kakar stated that this is the first time such a large number of political activists have been convicted and sentenced. He confirmed that appeals will be filed.
PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan has condemned the convictions, calling the cases against Ayub and the others “baseless.” He alleges the verdicts are timed to coincide with the third anniversary of Khan’s conviction in multiple cases and ahead of planned rallies.
Imran Khan, ousted from power in 2022 through a no-confidence vote, has been embroiled in legal battles since. He accuses the military and his political rival, current Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, of orchestrating his removal with U.S. involvement, accusations they have denied. The situation remains politically charged.
First Piper 