Court Sentences Several PTI Leaders to Prison Over May 9 Violence Cases
Islamabad: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore has handed down verdicts in two high-profile cases related to the May 9 violence, sentencing several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders to prison. PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi was acquitted, while former Punjab Governor Sarfaraz Cheema, provincial ministers Dr. Yasmeen Rashid, Mehmood Rashid, and Ejaz Chaudhry were sentenced to 10 years in prison each. PTI leaders Aliya Hamza and Sanam Javed were sentenced to 5 years in prison.
The ATC, under Judge Manzar Ali Gul, delivered the reserved judgment on two cases involving the Shadman police station and Rahat Bakery arson incidents. In the verdict, Qureshi was acquitted of charges related to the burning of the Shadman police station and police vehicles.
Former Punjab Governor Sarfaraz Cheema, Dr. Yasmeen Rashid, Mehmood Rashid, and Ejaz Chaudhry were each sentenced to 10 years in prison for their involvement in the violent protests. Additionally, PTI leaders Aliya Hamza and Sanam Javed were sentenced to 5 years in prison.
In the Shadman police station arson case, 12 suspects were acquitted, while 13 were sentenced. Those acquitted included Salman Ahmed, Abdul Qadir, Faizan, Tayyab Sultan, Shahid Baig, Majid Ali, Bakht Rawan, Sohail Khan, Owais, Rafiuddin, Fareed Khan, and others.
In the Rahat Bakery arson case, 10 individuals were acquitted, and 7 were sentenced. Among those convicted was PTI’s founder Imran Khan’s security guard, Hafiz Arshad, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The court also sentenced Ayesha Bhutta to 10 years in prison and acquitted five juvenile suspects.
Aliya Hamza and Sanam Javed were fined Rs. 100,000 each in addition to their prison sentences. The verdict comes after the trial of 45 suspects, of whom 25 were arrested, 15 are absconding, and one has passed away.
The court’s decision reflects the ongoing legal repercussions for those involved in the violent protests following the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan on May 9, 2023.
