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Faisalabad ATC Orders SIC Chief Hamid Raza to Serve 10-Year Jail Term in May 9 Riots Case
Faisalabad ATC sends SIC chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza to jail to serve a 10-year sentence in the May 9 riots case. He was detained en route to court to surrender. PTI leaders condemn his arrest.
MH
by Muhammad Hashir
2025-11-07
Faisalabad ATC Orders SIC Chief Hamid Raza to Serve 10-Year Jail Term in May 9 Riots Case

A Faisalabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday ordered Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Mohammad Hamid Raza to serve his 10-year jail term in a case related to the violent protests that erupted across Pakistan on May 9, 2023, following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan.

Hamid Raza was convicted in the case on July 31, alongside several PTI leaders. According to his brother, he was detained earlier in the day by Islamabad police while travelling to Faisalabad to surrender before the court.

He was later produced before the ATC, which confirmed his conviction under a case registered at the Civil Lines police station in Faisalabad. The order, issued by the court, stated that Raza had been sentenced on multiple counts, with the maximum term being 10 years.

The court directed the Faisalabad Central Jail superintendent to take the convict into custody for completion of his sentence, adding that all terms would run concurrently. It also extended the benefit of Section 382-B of the Code of Criminal Procedure, allowing his pre-sentence detention period to count toward his total jail time.

Detention and Political Reaction

Earlier in the day, Hamid’s brother Sahibzada Hassan Raza told reporters outside the Faisalabad ATC that his brother had been detained near Islamabad bypass while travelling from Peshawar to Faisalabad to surrender.

“He was travelling to Faisalabad to surrender himself before the court when Islamabad police detained him,” Hassan said.

A post from Hamid’s official X account confirmed the detention, while PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub termed it an “abduction,” condemning the move and demanding his immediate production before the court.

“Sahibzada Hamid Raza sahib is a brave and loyal ally of PM Imran Khan. He must be produced immediately in the relevant court,” Ayub posted.

The development comes two days after the Peshawar High Court dismissed Raza’s plea for transit bail in the May 9 riots case.

Background

The May 9, 2023 protests erupted after Imran Khan’s arrest, leading to widespread unrest, vandalism of state property, and subsequent arrests of thousands of party workers and leaders.

Following the unrest, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stripped the PTI of its electoral symbol, forcing its candidates to contest the 2024 elections as independents. To secure reserved seats, the PTI later allied with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), led by Hamid Raza.

Raza’s conviction and disqualification by the ECP also vacated his National Assembly seat. His brother told media that they plan to seek a stay order against any election to fill the vacated seat.

The court’s order marks a major development in the ongoing legal aftermath of the May 9 unrest, which continues to shape Pakistan’s political landscape.
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May9Riots

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