Qureshi acquitted, 20 PTI leaders, activists awarded 10-year jail each in May 9 case

An anti-terrorism court in Lahore has awarded 10-year prison sentence each to PTI leaders Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry, Mian Mehmoodur Rashid, Umar Sarfraz Cheema and others, while acquitted former foreign minister and party’s vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the May 9 violence case regarding torching police vehicles in Mughalpura area, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Pronouncing the verdict inside Lahore Kot Lakhpat Jail on Saturday, ATC Admin Judge Manzar Ali Gill convicted 20 of the 22 accused.

PTI activists Shah Deen, Khawar Hussain, Ahmad Zahid and Hafiz Syedur Rahman were also awarded 10-year jail each.

The convicted PTI leaders had been charged with plotting to May 9 violence.

During proceedings, the prosecution brought forward 37 witnesses against the accused.

Two of the 22 accused had been declared proclaimed offenders.

Reporter Jamaluddin Jamali