An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore on Monday acquitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi in two more cases related to the May 9 riots, while sentencing several other prominent leaders to 5-10 years’ imprisonment.
The May 9, 2023 riots refer to the violent demonstrations staged by PTI supporters after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The nationwide protests saw attacks on civilian and military installations and resulted in the arrests of thousands. Despite the passage of more than two years since the incidents, verdicts from trial courts are only just emerging. All convicts have the right to appeal their sentences in high courts and, eventually, the Supreme Court.
Proceedings into the latest two rulings concluded at Kot Lakhpat Jail on Saturday night, with ATC Judge Manzer Ali Gill stating he would announce the verdicts today (Monday). The cases pertain to an attack on the Shadman police station as well as the burning of police vehicles near the Lahore Corps Commander’s House. The court has acquitted 12 people in both cases, including Qureshi.
In the Shadman police station case, the court indicted 25 accused out of 41 nominated in the challan and recorded statements of 45 prosecution witnesses. At least 15 of the accused have been declared proclaimed offenders. In this case, the court has convicted Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, former Punjab governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema and PTI leader Mehmoodur Rasheed, sentencing them to 10 years’ imprisonment, as well as PTI leaders Aliya Hamza and Sanam Javed, sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment.
The court had indicted 17 accused in the case concerning arson of police vehicles, declared seven proclaimed offenders and recorded statements of 65 prosecution witnesses. Dr. Rashid, Chaudhry, Cheema and Rasheed have been convicted in this case also, all sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Last month, the Lahore ATC had acquitted Qureshi in a case related to violence at Sherpao Bridge while convicting Dr. Rashid, Chaudhry, Cheema, Rashid and others to 10 years’ imprisonment.