Pakistan has sentenced 108 members of former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party, who are in prison, to prison for their involvement in anti-military protests in 2023.
Violent protests erupted across the country in May 2023, after security forces arrested Khan during his court appearance on corruption charges.
Authorities have handed down dozens of convictions in the past two years, but Thursday's sentences, which include a 10-year prison sentence for opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan, deal a major blow to Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Opposition figures have denounced the anti-terrorism court's rulings, which also disqualified six PTI lawmakers from their seats.
"For the first time in the judicial history of Pakistan, such a sad and shameful incident has taken place that opposition leaders in both houses of parliament were punished solely on the basis that they were loyal allies of Imran Khan's political narrative, public representation and constitutional struggle ," PTI wrote in X.
The party says it will challenge the decision. Khan's media adviser, Zulfi Bukhari, said the latest convictions mark "a black day for democracy."
"Punishing opposition leaders one after another does not bode well for any democratic system and will seriously damage our already fragile democracy," Bukhari said.
Khan, a former international cricket star, has been imprisoned since August 2023 but remains extremely popular in Pakistan.
He still faces more than 150 charges ranging from terrorism to leaking state secrets, which he and his supporters have called politically motivated.
Violent clashes erupted between security forces and Khan's supporters following his arrest on 9 May 2023, during which thousands of his supporters attacked government buildings and military installations. At least ten people were killed in the protests, prompting authorities to crack down on Khan's party.
During the 2024 National Assembly elections, PTI members who contested as independent candidates won more seats but were prevented from forming the government. (A2 Televizion)
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