An anti-terrorism court (ATC) announced on Friday its verdict in another case linked to the May 9, 2023 unrest, sentencing several senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders to long prison terms while acquitting others, including Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

An ATC in Lahore sentenced Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry, and Omar Sarfaraz Cheema to 10 years in prison in an arson and encirclement case related to the May 9 violence.

The verdict was announced by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul at a makeshift court set up inside Kot Lakhpat Jail.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi acquitted

The court acquitted PTI senior leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the GOR gate breaking case, along with 12 other accused.

Those acquitted also included Abdullah Badr, Mushtaq Ahmed, and Qasim Elahi, according to court records. During the trial, the court recorded final statements of 21 accused, including Dr Yasmin Rashid.

The prosecution presented 56 witnesses to support its case, while the Race Course Police had submitted the challan. The court declared four accused absconders during the proceedings.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Shahbaz was among those sentenced to 10 years in prison, while the court acquitted a total of 13 accused in this case.

Earlier verdicts in related May 9 cases

Earlier, on August 11, an ATC sentenced several PTI leaders, including Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, Ijaz Chaudhry, and Omar Sarfaraz Cheema, to 10 years’ imprisonment in two separate May 9 cases.

The verdict was announced by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill, who conducted hearings at Kot Lakhpat Jail.

In the Jinnah House vehicle torching case, the court handed 10-year sentences to multiple accused, including Rashid, Cheema, Chaudhry, Rasheed, Ayesha Ali Bhutta, Muhammad Fahim, and others.

Aliya Hamza and Sanam Javed were sentenced to five years each, while Shah Mehmood Qureshi and six others were acquitted in the same case.

In the Shadman Police Station torching case, out of 25 accused, the court acquitted 12, including Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Sohail Khan, and several others.

Several suspects in both cases had earlier been declared absconders, while one accused died during the trial.

Background

The May 9 unrest erupted after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan from the premises of the Islamabad High Court in a graft case.

Thousands of supporters stormed public and military installations, including the Corps Commander House in Lahore and GHQ in Rawalpindi, resulting in widespread damage and loss of life.