Lahore : An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday sentenced four senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to 10 years in prison in a case linked to the May 9 violence, while acquitting former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi of all charges.
According to the verdict announced by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid and Ejaz Chaudhry were awarded 10-year jail terms over the torching of police vehicles during the unrest.
The case relates to incidents of arson targeting police vehicles in the Mughalpura area of Lahore during the May 9, 2023 riots. Initially, 22 individuals were named in the case, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid and Ejaz Chaudhry.
The court had reserved its verdict after completion of final arguments by defence lawyers, while the prosecution had produced 37 witnesses during the trial proceedings.
The ruling adds to ongoing legal challenges faced by PTI, which has seen several of its leaders convicted in cases linked to the May 9 unrest, while many others, including party founder Imran Khan, remain in custody in different cases.
It is worth noting that Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfraz Cheema and Ejaz Chaudhry have also been convicted in other cases related to the same wave of violence.
The May 9 events erupted in 2023 following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan from the Islamabad High Court in a corruption case, triggering nationwide protests.
During the unrest, demonstrators attacked key civil and military installations, including the Corps Commander House in Lahore and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
After the violence, several PTI leaders and supporters were arrested, with some later granted bail while others remain in custody as multiple cases continue in different courts.
