ATC sentences four senior PTI leaders to 10 years in May 9 Mughalpura case, acquits Qureshi
Lahore anti-terrorism court sentenced four senior PTI leaders to 10 years in prison over the May 9 riots, while acquitting Shah Mahmood Qureshi for lack of evidence
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FILE: Supporters of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan throw stones at a police vehicle during a protest after Khan's arrest, in Karachi, Pakistan, May 9, 2023.
An Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore sentenced four senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders to 10 years in prison on Saturday for their involvement in the May 9, 2023, riots, while acquitting former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the same case due to a lack of evidence.
ATC Administrative Judge Manzer Ali Gill announced the reserved verdict during jail trial proceedings at Kot Lakhpat Jail. The ruling is the eighth major verdict delivered in connection with the countrywide May 9 demonstrations.
Who was sentenced and who was acquitted in the May 9 Mughalpura case?
The court handed 10-year prison sentences to former Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, former provincial minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid, and former Senator Ejaz Chaudhry.
Four PTI workers, Shah Din, Khawar Hussain, Ahmad Zahid, and Hafiz Syed Rehman, received the same sentence. Shah Mahmood Qureshi and 11 other party workers were acquitted of all charges after the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence linking them to the violence.
What was the May 9 Mughalpura case about?
The convictions stem from an arson case registered at Mughalpura Police Station, where the accused were charged with attacking and torching police vehicles.
The prosecution presented 37 witnesses during the trial to establish that the convicted PTI leaders systematically planned the violence and incited workers to riot following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan on May 9, 2023.
The case is one of several arising from nationwide unrest that followed Khan's arrest.
How has PTI responded to the verdict?
PTI's leadership rejected the ATC's decision, calling it a "fake case" in an official statement.
The party raised concerns about judicial fairness, claiming the accused were denied a transparent trial. Defence counsels confirmed they intend to challenge the convictions before the High Court.
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