An anti-terrorism court in Gujranwala has handed down a significant ruling, sentencing 51 individuals to five years in prison for their involvement in the riots that took place on May 9th of last year.

The case revolved around acts of vandalism and arson that occurred in Gujranwala Cantt, with 23 PTI leaders, including Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, initially identified as suspects. However, it is important to note that no prominent PTI leaders were ultimately convicted in this case.

The court determined that the accused political workers were apprehended either at the scene of the vandalism or through the use of geo-fencing technology.

Initially, the police had named 23 PTI leaders and over 200 unidentified suspects, but as the investigation progressed, the number of suspects swelled to over 400. Throughout the trial, a total of 199 witnesses provided testimony.

Furthermore, the police conducted interviews with Imran Khan and Qureshi while they were in custody, although Imran Khan chose not to cooperate.

The riots on May 9th were triggered by the arrest of a former prime minister in connection with a corruption case, which led to widespread violence and attacks on military installations. In response, the military declared May 9th as a Black Day and opted to prosecute the protesters under the Army Act.