Omar Ayub denied bail; Zartaj Gul moves LHC over jail term

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Saturday cancelled the interim bails of former National Assembly opposition leader and Omar Ayub in three arson cases linked to the May 9 riots, including those involving the Jinnah House and Askari Tower attacks.

According to details, ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul rejected the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders request for a one-day exemption from appearance, dismissing his bail petitions on grounds of non-prosecution.

Notification

Consequent upon disqualification and de-notification of Mr. Omar Ayub Khan, Leader of the Opposition from being Member of the National Assembly (NA-18 Haripur) under Article 63 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan vide Election Commission of… pic.twitter.com/2nVJhsSSrr

— National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) August 8, 2025

Omar Ayub was handed down 10-year prison sentence by an ATC in Faisalabad while delivering verdicts in four cases linked to the events of May 9 on July 31.

The court had sentenced 108 individuals and acquitted 77 others.

Several senior PTI leaders, including, Shibli Faraz, and Zartaj Gul, were each handed 10-year prison sentences. The court had also sentenced MNA Sahibzada Hamid Raza and Sheikh Rashid Shafiq to 10 years in prison.

Besides this conviction, Omar Ayub also faces multiple cases registered at Lahore’s Shadman police station over alleged involvement in arson and vandalism during last year’s unrest.

Zartaj Gul moves LHC

In a relative development, PTI leader and former MNA Zartaj Gul has filed an appeal in the Lahore High Court (LHC) against her 10-year prison sentence and Rs1 million fine handed down by an ATC in Faisalabad on July 31.

She is the first PTI leader in Punjab to formally challenge the verdict.

#PTI leader Zartaj Gul's appeals against convictions in three cases of May 9 have been fixed as objection cases. A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice of #Lahore High Court Alia Neelam will hear the objection cases on Monday, August 11. pic.twitter.com/7nOpcQzLKo

— Abu Hurairah🇵🇰 (@horeirah) August 9, 2025

The sentence stems from her alleged role in the May 9, 2023 protests that erupted following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan, during which violent demonstrations took place nationwide.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) subsequently disqualified Zartaj Gul, Omar Ayub, and other PTI legislators after their convictions.

In her petition, filed through Barristers Ali Zafar and Muhammad Hussain, Zartaj Gul claimed innocence, arguing that the punishment was imposed without lawful justification.

She has urged the court to overturn both the prison term and the fine.

Zartaj Gul previously served as minister of state for climate change until 2022 and was appointed parliamentary leader of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) in the National Assembly last year.