Qureshi acquitted, Yasmin, Ijaz Ch, Cheema awarded 10-year jail each
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has awarded 10-year jail sentence to senior PTI leaders including Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry, Mahmoodur Rashid and Omar Sarfraz Cheema while acquitted former foreign minister Shahe Mehmood Qureshi in two cases relating to May 9 riots, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul pronounced the reserved verdict on Monday afternoon.
Two other PTI leaders Aaliya Hamza and Sanam Javed were given jail sentences of five years each.
Hearing two cases regarding torching Shah Zaman police station and vehicles, the ATC judge announced this verdict at the Kot Lakhpat jail. The ATC has exonerated Shah Mehmood Qureshi Qureshi in both the cases.
Whereas, the court has sentenced former Punjab health minister Yasmin, former Senator Ejaz, former Punjab governor Omer Sarfraz Cheema and former Punjab housing and urban development minister Mehmoodur Rashid to 10 years in prison each. Furthermore, ex-MNA Aliya Hamza and Sanam Javed have been sentenced to five years imprisonment each.
As per details, the ATC has sentenced 13 accused in the police station arson case and acquitted 12 others. Similarly, in the arson and vandalism case outside Rahat Bakery, the court sentenced seven accused and acquitted 10 others.
Those acquitted included Suhail Khan, Owais, Rafiuddin, Fareed Khan, Salman Ahmed, Abdul Qadir, Faizan, Tayyab, Sultan, Shahid Baig, Majid Ali, and Bakht Rawan.
Earlier on August 5, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had disqualified several PTI legislators including Shibli Faraz, Omar Ayub and Zartaj Gul as well as Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, following their conviction by an ATC in Faisalabad in the cases pertaining to May 9 riots.
Through a notification, the election commission announced since they had been convicted by the ATC, therefore, they were disqualified and de-notified. Hence, the ECP said, their seats have become vacant.
Reporter Jamaluddin Jamali