ATC sentences PTI leaders to 10 years in May 9 riots case

A Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Saturday announced its verdict in another case related to the May 9 riots, sentencing several senior leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to 10 years in prison, Aaj News reported.

A day ago, the ATC reserved its verdict in the case concerning the burning of police vehicles. Both the prosecution and defence had concluded their arguments, and 37 prosecution witnesses had recorded their statements.

ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul, while announcing the reserved verdict at Kot Lakhpat Jail, handed down 10-year imprisonment sentences to PTI leaders Makhdoom Mahmood-ur-Rasheed, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, and Umar Sarfraz Cheema in a case pertaining to the burning of police vehicles in Mughalpura during the May 9 incidents.

Former foreign minister and senior PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi was acquitted in the same case.

According to the prosecution, a challan was submitted against 22 accused, while statements from 37 prosecution witnesses were recorded and cross-examined during the trial.

During proceedings, two accused were declared proclaimed offenders. The court ordered legal proceedings against absconders Arbaz Zaman and Elahi Bakhsh to continue.

Overall, the ATC announced its verdict in cases involving 15 accused, while further legal proceedings in related matters will continue as per law.

On May 9, 2023, incidents of vandalism, attacks, and arson, including setting police vehicles on fire, occurred in Mughalpura as part of the riots across Punjab. Following the widespread riots, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on May 13, 2024, gave a 72-hour deadline to arrest all involved in the incidents.