Pakistan jails eight senior members of Imran Khan's party over 2023 protests
Mr Khan faces a separate trial on similar charges, with prosecutors accusing him and fellow PTI party leaders of instigating the unrest that saw protesters attack government and military sites, including the army's headquarters in Rawalpindi and a senior commander's residence in Lahore.
Tuesday's ruling has no direct bearing on Mr Khan's ongoing trial, Reuters reported.
The convicted PTI members include officials of the party's previous provincial government in Punjab such as Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, Mehmoodur Rashid, and Umar Sarfraz Cheema.
The trial was held behind closed doors in a prison in Lahore city.
The sentencing of its eight prominent members is the latest in a wave of prosecutions targeting Mr Khan's PTI following his ouster in 2022.
Defence lawyers plan to appeal, citing inconsistencies in the rulings against people charged with the same offences. 'It's surprising that six people were acquitted while eight were convicted, even though they were all charged under the same allegations,' defence counsel Burhan Moazzam said.
Among those acquitted was PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi. The former foreign minister remains in custody on separate charges.
After Mr Khan's arrest on corruption charges on 9 May 2023, thousands of his supporters stormed military installations in a dramatic escalation of unrest triggered by his ouster the previous year. The ensuing clashes left 10 people dead in the capital city of Islamabad and led to the arrests of around 4,000 people.
Mr Khan's supporters, who accused the powerful military of orchestrating his ouster through a no confidence vote, targeted an airbase, multiple cantonments, the residence of a senior general, and the army headquarters after the leader was forcibly removed from a courtroom and taken into custody.
Mr Khan, 72, completes two years in prison next month. He faces around 150 charges, ranging from corruption to terrorism. His party claims all the cases filed against him are politically motivated.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
36 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Calls louden for drivers of fake 'Chinese police cars' to be DEPORTED
An outspoken protester against the Chinese Government has unleashed on the driver of a fake Chinese police vehicle allegedly carrying firearms through Sydney. Police spotted a Mercedes S-Class in Strathfield, in the city's inner west, about 2.50pm on Friday bearing a police insignia on the doors and bonnet, the word 'police' in Mandarin and the misspelt word 'poilce' in English. The 21-year-old driver allegedly presented a forged document to officers, claiming the vehicle was being used to transport Chinese consulate officials. Officers searched the car and allegedly discovered a box containing 48 live rounds of ammunition in the boot. The driver allegedly told officers the boot was the 'best place' to store the ammunition and that he had a valid firearms licence and two guns at home. He was charged with multiple offences, including using false documents to influence exercise of public duty. The alleged incident has drawn the ire of social media commentator Drew Pavlou, 26, who slammed the driver for his 'lack of respect'. 'It's just so unbelievably disrespectful to Australia as a country, and to all Australians,' the anti-Chinese Communist Party (CCP) activist told Daily Mail Australia. 'I think it shows the lack of respect that supporters of the Chinese government have towards Australia. 'They come to Australia - people who openly support the Chinese government - (and) they think so little of Australia and Australians, they think that they are a law unto themselves. 'They act as though we already are basically just a vassal state or a puppet state, and they don't have to show any respect for our laws, our police, our country.' Mr Pavlou, who is a law graduate from the University of Queensland, has used his social media following to spread his opposition to the Chinese Communist Party. While running for the Queensland Senate in 2022 under his own party 'Drew Pavlou Democratic Alliance', he dressed as a Chinese Red Guard during a protest. The action by Pavlou was to highlight Liberal MP Gladys Liu's former connections with Chinese Communist Party-linked groups. He was also ordered to pay a $3,100 penalty by the Brisbane Magistrates Court in October 2023 for unlawfully displaying an advert outside the Chinese consulate which referenced the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. 'Anybody who expresses open support for (the CCP) in Australia, they have to leave. That's the answer,' Pavlou said. 'People who do things like this, where they where they put Chinese police car insignia on their cars - they have to be deported. They can't be in Australia.' The driver of the Mercedes S-class, who was identified by The Daily Telegraph as Kunlang Li, fronted Burwood Court on Tuesday. He faces multiple charges including displaying emergency services organisation insignia, driving a motor vehicle with unlawful police insignia, and using false documents to influence exercise of public duty. He was charged with providing information known to be false or misleading, possessing an unauthorised prohibited firearm, and not displaying P plates. During his court appearance, Magistrate Jeff Tunks asked Li via his interpreter to enter a plea. But after being asked how he would plead to the charge of driving a motor vehicle with unlawful police insignia and a pause, Li's interpreter told the court he needed more time to seek legal advice. The court was adjourned to August 11 and Li's bail continued. This is not the first instance of alleged 'Chinese police' cars spotted on Australian streets. In April 2023, at least two 'Chinese police vehicles' were spotted less than a week apart with a sedan seen in Melbourne and a Jeep found in NSW. The Jeep, which also sported the logo from the toy and movie franchise Transformers, had a Chinese police crest and Mandarin characters almost identical to a Nissan Maxima spotted in Melbourne a few days earlier.
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Four in 10 feel Muslim immigrants have negative impact on UK, polling suggests
The findings have been described by an imam as 'deeply worrying', and showing 'high levels of anti-Muslim sentiment' in Britain. The polling was commissioned by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community ahead of a gathering for what it described as the UK's biggest Muslim convention – the Jalsa Salana – this weekend in Hampshire, expected to be attended by 40,000 followers of the faith. This year's convention is 'opening its doors to sceptics of Islam and those with any questions about the faith', organisers said – noting that two Reform UK voters are due to attend to hear about the religion. The YouGov survey of 2,130 adults in Great Britain in mid-July asked people if they felt different groups of immigrants by religion generally have a positive or negative impact on the UK. While 41% said Muslim immigrants have a negative impact, the proportions feeling this way were much lower for other groups. Around 15% felt this way about Hindu immigrants, 14% about Sikh immigrants, 13% about Jewish immigrants and 7% about Christian immigrants. Just under a quarter (24%) of respondents felt Muslim immigrants had a positive impact on the UK, lower than for any of the other religions stated. Earlier this week, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner urged Labour colleagues to acknowledge people's 'real concerns', pointing out that immigration was one of a number of factors having a 'profound impact on society', as she updated Cabinet on her work on social cohesion. Some 53% of those polled said they believed Islam is not compatible with British values, while 25% said it is and 22% said they did not know. Sabah Ahmedi, aged 30 and known as 'the young imam' online – where he has a large following, said he believes fear among people 'stems from a lack of understanding of Islam'. He said: 'These findings are deeply worrying, revealing high levels of anti-Muslim sentiment in this country. 'As a British Muslim, it is tragic to think that we are disliked or hated because of our religious beliefs. It is unfair and unjust considering that the vast majority of Muslim immigrants to the UK are contributing positively.' He encouraged people to 'meet Muslims to see we are not a threat' and urged the media to 'play a role as well'. He added: 'Instead of focusing on the tiny minority of Muslim immigrants who cause harm, focus on the majority who are on the frontlines serving the NHS, our armed forces, the police, educational institutes and the like. 'We love this country and cherish its values of freedom and tolerance.' The Union flag will be raised at this weekend's gathering 'alongside the Islamic flag of our community, to symbolise that love of our faith and country go hand in hand', he said. The survey findings also indicated younger people were less likely to feel Muslim immigrants have a negative impact and that Islam is incompatible with British values. Mr Ahmedi said he was 'encouraged by these findings that seem to show that the younger generation is more open-minded and that I hope it indicates a brighter future where Muslims are not considered a threat but an asset to this society'. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the UK is mostly made up of people and their descendants who generally fled Pakistan in the 1980s in the face of religious persecution. Members said they now face challenges and discrimination in the UK, from some Muslims who do not agree with their version of the faith and from other people who have subjected them to racist bullying because of their Pakistani ethnicity. A Government spokesperson said: 'British Muslims have played an integral role in shaping modern Britain and have long contributed across every part of our national life. 'Nobody should face hatred, intolerance or feel unwelcome as a result of their faith or belief – and we are committed to tackling anti-Muslim hate in all its forms.'
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Four in 10 feel Muslim immigrants have negative impact on UK, polling suggests
The findings have been described by an imam as 'deeply worrying', and showing 'high levels of anti-Muslim sentiment' in Britain. The polling was commissioned by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community ahead of a gathering for what it described as the UK's biggest Muslim convention – the Jalsa Salana – this weekend in Hampshire, expected to be attended by 40,000 followers of the faith. This year's convention is 'opening its doors to sceptics of Islam and those with any questions about the faith', organisers said – noting that two Reform UK voters are due to attend to hear about the religion. The YouGov survey of 2,130 adults in Great Britain in mid-July asked people if they felt different groups of immigrants by religion generally have a positive or negative impact on the UK. While 41% said Muslim immigrants have a negative impact, the proportions feeling this way were much lower for other groups. Around 15% felt this way about Hindu immigrants, 14% about Sikh immigrants, 13% about Jewish immigrants and 7% about Christian immigrants. Just under a quarter (24%) of respondents felt Muslim immigrants had a positive impact on the UK, lower than for any of the other religions stated. Earlier this week, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner urged Labour colleagues to acknowledge people's 'real concerns', pointing out that immigration was one of a number of factors having a 'profound impact on society', as she updated Cabinet on her work on social cohesion. Some 53% of those polled said they believed Islam is not compatible with British values, while 25% said it is and 22% said they did not know. Sabah Ahmedi, aged 30 and known as 'the young imam' online – where he has a large following, said he believes fear among people 'stems from a lack of understanding of Islam'. Imam Sabah Ahmedi said fear is born of a lack of understanding of the Islamic faith (Family Handout/PA) He said: 'These findings are deeply worrying, revealing high levels of anti-Muslim sentiment in this country. 'As a British Muslim, it is tragic to think that we are disliked or hated because of our religious beliefs. It is unfair and unjust considering that the vast majority of Muslim immigrants to the UK are contributing positively.' He encouraged people to 'meet Muslims to see we are not a threat' and urged the media to 'play a role as well'. He added: 'Instead of focusing on the tiny minority of Muslim immigrants who cause harm, focus on the majority who are on the frontlines serving the NHS, our armed forces, the police, educational institutes and the like. 'We love this country and cherish its values of freedom and tolerance.' The Union flag will be raised at this weekend's gathering 'alongside the Islamic flag of our community, to symbolise that love of our faith and country go hand in hand', he said. The survey findings also indicated younger people were less likely to feel Muslim immigrants have a negative impact and that Islam is incompatible with British values. Mr Ahmedi said he was 'encouraged by these findings that seem to show that the younger generation is more open-minded and that I hope it indicates a brighter future where Muslims are not considered a threat but an asset to this society'. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the UK is mostly made up of people and their descendants who generally fled Pakistan in the 1980s in the face of religious persecution. Members said they now face challenges and discrimination in the UK, from some Muslims who do not agree with their version of the faith and from other people who have subjected them to racist bullying because of their Pakistani ethnicity. A Government spokesperson said: 'British Muslims have played an integral role in shaping modern Britain and have long contributed across every part of our national life. 'Nobody should face hatred, intolerance or feel unwelcome as a result of their faith or belief – and we are committed to tackling anti-Muslim hate in all its forms.'
