In a significant ruling on Monday, the Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) acquitted PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi in two additional cases related to the violent protests on May 9, 2023. However, the court sentenced several prominent PTI leaders, including Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and Mian Mehmoodur Rashid, to ten years in prison for their involvement in the riots. The protests, sparked by the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan, led to widespread unrest and numerous arrests.
The ATC’s verdict on the May 9 cases, which included the Shadman police station attack and the torching of police vehicles near Jinnah House, came after sessions held inside Kot Lakhpat Jail. Judge Manzer Ali Gill delivered the judgments, convicting several PTI figures, while Qureshi was acquitted in both cases.
In the Shadman case, 25 of the 41 accused were indicted, with 45 witnesses testifying. Additionally, 15 individuals have been declared proclaimed offenders in this case. In the police vehicles torching case, the court indicted 17 people and recorded 65 witness statements. Seven of the accused in this case have also been declared proclaimed offenders.
The Lahore ATC had previously acquitted Qureshi and sentenced other PTI leaders, including Dr. Yasmin, Chaudhry, Cheema, and Rashid, to ten years in prison over their role in a violent protest at Sherpao Bridge.
PTI leaders, including Aliya Hamza and Sanam Javed, were sentenced to five years in the Shadman case. Hamza expressed defiance, stating that the PTI leadership would continue supporting Imran Khan despite the verdicts. She also confirmed plans to appeal the sentences in the Lahore High Court.
In response to the sentences, PTI’s Barrister Gohar Ali Khan condemned the judgments, accusing the government of silencing the voice of the people and fostering an atmosphere of injustice. He further stated that the party would continue its movement until the release of their leader, Imran Khan, who remains imprisoned under contentious circumstances.
Gohar emphasized the importance of ensuring justice for political stability, expressing concerns over the rising political tensions and the lack of judicial action on several pending matters, including meetings with Imran Khan. The PTI leaders have vowed to pursue their legal avenues, with an eye on challenging the decisions through higher courts.
