An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Friday sentenced 82 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers to four months in prison and imposed a fine of Rs15,000 each after they pleaded guilty to their involvement in the violent protest that took place on November 26, 2024.
The protest was organized by the former ruling party to pressure the government into releasing its founder, who has remained incarcerated since August 2023. The 71-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician faces multiple charges, including corruption and terrorism, following his ouster through a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
The three-day-long demonstrations came to an abrupt end after violent clashes broke out between protesters and security forces, leading to the deaths of at least three Rangers personnel and one police officer.
During the trial, the 82 convicted individuals admitted their involvement in the unrest and submitted sworn affidavits, claiming they were incited by both the local and central leadership of the PTI to participate in the demonstrations. They described themselves as impoverished labourers who were misled into resorting to violence.
In their statements, the accused requested leniency from the court and pledged not to take part in any future protests.
It is worth noting that a total of 1,609 individuals appeared before the court in relation to the case, of whom 560 have been formally indicted so far.
