Pakistan
ATC acquits Qureshi, others jailed for 10 years in May 9 cases
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday acquitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi in two separate May 9-related cases, while sentencing Dr Yasmin Rashid, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, and several other prominent PTI leaders to 10 years in prison.
ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill delivered the verdict at a makeshift courtroom inside Kot Lakhpat Jail, days after reserving judgment following completion of arguments from both prosecution and defence.
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The court awarded 10-year sentences to Rashid, Chaudhry, former Punjab governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, and others in the Jinnah House vehicle arson case.
The convicts include Ayesha Ali Bhutta, Muhammad Fahim, Niaz Ahmed, Ali Hasan, Zain Ali, Asad Ali, Bilal Wajahat, Bilal Bashir, Muhammad Qasim, Zain ul Hassan, and Hafiz Muhammad Arshad.
Aliya Hamza and Sanam Javed were each sentenced to five years in the same case. However, neither of the two — both previously granted bail — was present in court when the judgment was announced.
Qureshi, along with several co-accused including Abrar, Amjad, Faisal, Jamil, Saadia, and Tasneem, was acquitted in the case.
12 acquitted in Shadman Police Station case
In the Shadman Police Station torching case, the court acquitted 12 out of 25 accused. The acquitted individuals include Qureshi, Sohail Khan, Muhammad Owais, Rafiuddin, Farid Khan, Salman Ahmed, Abdul Qadir, Faizan, Tayyab Sultan, Shahid Baig, Majid Ali, and Bakht.
The court had earlier declared multiple suspects absconders in both cases. One accused died during the course of the trial.
May 9 violence
The cases stem from the widespread violence that broke out on May 9, 2023, following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan by paramilitary forces from the premises of the Islamabad High Court in a corruption case.
Enraged PTI supporters stormed public buildings and military sites across the country, with the Corps Commander House in Lahore and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi among the most high-profile targets.
The unrest, in which lives were lost, led to sweeping arrests and multiple terrorism and sedition charges against PTI leaders and workers.
Many were released on bail, but several high-profile figures, including Imran Khan himself, remain incarcerated.
