An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has acquitted PTI leader and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, while awarded 10-year jail term each to four other leaders, including Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omer Sarfraz Cheema, Mian Mehmoodur Rashid and Ejaz Chaudhry, in connection with a case related to the May 9 riots, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill pronounced the verdict on Friday inside Kot Lakhpat Jail, concluding the trial in first information report number 852/2023, which pertains to an attack on the entrance gate of Government Officers’ Residence-I Club Chowk.
The Racecourse police had registered the case and submitted a challan against 25 suspects, including PTI leaders and workers.
According to details, an anti-terrorism court in Lahore has handed down 10-year prison sentences to senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Dr Yasmin Rashid, in connection with the May 9 violence case involving an attack at Club Chowk and the GOR Gate, while acquitting former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
The verdict was announced by Administrative Judge of the Anti-Terrorism Court, Manzar Ali Gill, at Kot Lakhpat Jail. Under the ruling, PTI leaders Ijaz Chaudhry, Umar Sarfraz Cheema and former provincial minister Mian Mahmoodur Rashid were each sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
In addition to the jail terms, the court also imposed fines of Rs500,000 on each convict, warning that failure to pay would result in an additional one-year sentence. The court also ordered the confiscation of their properties.
The case was registered by the Race Course police, which had submitted a challan against 25 accused individuals. During the trial, the prosecution produced 56 witnesses to substantiate the charges.
The accused were charged with attacking Club Chowk and the GOR Gate during the violent protests that erupted on May 9. Four accused, Habib Ahmed, Farooq Anjum, Arsalan and Akbar Khan, did not appear before the court during the proceedings and were subsequently declared proclaimed offenders.
According to the prosecution, a mob led by PTI leader Hammad Azhar vandalized security cameras at Club Chowk and attacked the GOR Gate. Prosecutors alleged that PTI leaders incited workers to engage in riots, rebellion and acts of conspiracy, leading to coordinated attacks on state installations during the unrest.
Reporter Jamaluddin Jamali