An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday sentenced four Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omer Sarfraz Cheema, Mian Mehmoodur Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry and three others to 10 years of imprisonment each in a case related to the May 9 riots.
The verdict was announced by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul inside Kot Lakhpat Jail. The court, however, acquitted Shah Mahmood Qureshi, a senior party leader and a former foreign minister, and 13 others.
During the trial, final statements of 21 accused, including Dr Rashid, were recorded. The prosecution presented 56 witnesses before the court. The court also noted that during the trial, four accused were declared proclaimed offenders.
The case was registered by the Race Course Police Station over the attack on the GOR-1 gate during the May 9 violence. According to the FIR, the accused damaged security cameras, smashed police wireless equipment, broke glass panels at the GOR gate, caused damage to government property, and assaulted police personnel.
The prosecution alleged that the attack was carried out by a mob led by PTI leader Hammad Azhar. The court ensured the attendance of both bail-granted and detained accused. PTI leaders faced allegations of inciting party workers to rebellion and violence during the May 9 unrest.
The development adds to the mounting legal woes faced by the Imran Khan-founded PTI, which has seen scores of leaders getting prison sentences over the May 9 riots while several others, including the former prime minister, remain behind bars in a plethora of cases.
This marks the fifth case in which PTI leaders Dr Yasmin, Cheema, Mian Mehmoodur, and Chaudhry were convicted, while former foreign minister Qureshi was acquitted.
Earlier verdicts were delivered in cases related to an attack on the Shadman police station, violence at Sherpao Bridge, the burning of police vehicles near Rahat Bakery, and the torching of a Supreme Court judge’s squad vehicle near Jinnah House during the May 9 protests.
Last month, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) de-notified a number of PTI lawmakers, including the opposition leaders in the Senate and National Assembly – Senator Shibli Faraz and Omar Ayub Khan – following their convictions in the May 9 cases.
The disqualification came days after a special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Faisalabad sentenced several PTI leaders including Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul and others to 10 years in prison each in connection with a case registered in the aftermath of the May 9, 2023, violence at the Civil Lines Police Station.
Thousands of supporters of Imran Khan stormed public property and military installations, including the Corps Commander House in Lahore, on May 9, 2023, in protest against the former premier’s arrest.
The riots erupted after the PTI founder was taken into custody from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a graft case.
During the unrest, the supporters of Khan – the only prime minister in Pakistan’s history to be ousted via a no-confidence vote – targeted civil and military installations, including the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
Several PTI leaders and workers were released on bail after their arrests, while many remain behind bars.