FAISALABAD: An anti-terrorism court has formally indicted four senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in connection with the attack on the house of PM advisor Rana Sanaullah.

This incident occurred following the arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan on May 9, 2023, when angry PTI protestors gathered outside Rana Sanaullah’s residence and pelted stones. The court issued the charges in absentia, as the four accused, including Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Kanwal Shozab, and Fawad Chaudhry, were not present during the hearing. The case has been adjourned until February 8 for further proceedings. Earlier, Imran Khan, the founder of PTI, sought post-arrest bail from the Lahore High Court (LHC) in relation to multiple cases filed against him following the events of May 9.

Imran Khan argued that he was in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Islamabad on the day of the violence and had no involvement in the protests or unrest. He described the charges against him as an act of “political revenge” and claimed he had been subjected to political victimization, with multiple fabricated cases lodged against him over the past two years. The May 9 violence led to clashes across Pakistan, triggered by Imran Khan’s arrest. Protestors, especially PTI supporters, expressed their outrage, resulting in violent protests across cities, with army installations, including the Corps Commander’s house in Lahore, becoming targets. 

Imran Khan is named as the primary accused in the majority of the cases related to the May 9 riots.