Anti-Terrorism Court Delivers Verdicts in May 9 Riots Cases, Acquitting Some and Sentencing Others
Lahore’s Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has announced its verdicts in two major cases linked to the violent May 9 riots, including the attack on Jinnah House and arson incidents near Shadman police station.
Judge Manzar Ali Gill, delivering the judgments from Kot Lakhpat Jail, acquitted several accused individuals due to a lack of evidence, while handing prison sentences to others.
In the Jinnah House attack case, where vehicles were set on fire near the Corps Commander’s residence, former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was cleared of all charges along with six others — Sohail Khan, Awais, Rafiuddin, Farid Khan, Salman Ahmed, Abdul Qadir, and Faizan.
However, the court sentenced PTI leaders Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, and Omar Sarfraz Cheema to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. Aisha Bhutta also received the same 10-year sentence in this case.
In a related case involving the arson and siege of Shadman police station, Shah Mehmood Qureshi was again acquitted along with 11 others, including some of the same names from the previous case, as well as Tayyab Sultan, Shahid Baig, Majid Ali, and Bakht Rawan.
Meanwhile, PTI leaders Alia Hamza and Sanam Javed were convicted and sentenced to five years in prison each for their roles in the incident.
It’s important to note that on July 22, the same ATC in Lahore had already sentenced several PTI leaders, including Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, and Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, to 10 years imprisonment while acquitting Shah Mehmood Qureshi in a related case of arson and vandalism on May 9.
The court also cleared Hamza Azim and five others of all charges linked to the May 9 riots.
Another verdict came in the case related to rioting at Sherpao Bridge in May 2023, following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan. Ali Hassan, Afzal Azeem, Khalid Qayyum, Riaz Hussain, and former Punjab Governor Umar Sarfraz Cheema were sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Background: May 9 Violence
The violence erupted across Pakistan on May 9, 2023, after former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested. Protests broke out not only in major cities but also in remote areas, as PTI supporters expressed anger over their leader’s detention.
Several provinces, including Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad, called in the armed forces to help maintain law and order.
During these protests, army facilities and key locations such as the Corps Commander’s house in Lahore were attacked by PTI supporters, leading to widespread unrest.
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