Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) convicted and sentenced 11 individuals to various prison conditions and fines in connection with the violence that took place on May 9, 2023.

The charges against them included attacking the Ramna police station, assaulting police staff, committing arson and spreading terrorism.

Among the convicts, Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) was a member of the National Assembly Abdul Latif and former Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa MPA Wazirzada Kailashi.

Following the announcement of the verdict, four of the criminal sentences, Muhammad Akram, Mira Khan, Shahzeb and Sohail Khan, were arrested from the court’s premises. Arrest warrants were issued for the remaining seven, namely Abdul Latif, Wazirzada Kailashi, Zaryab Khan, Samuel Robert, Abdul Basit, Shan Ali and Muhammad Yousuf.

The verdict, handed down by ATC judge Tahir Abbas Sipa, said the defendant attack the Ramna Police Station, opened fire, Pelted Stones and tried to kill police officers. They also set motorcycles on fire.

According to the court’s decision, the defendants were sentenced to 10 years in prison and fines of RS200,000 each for terrorist acts.

In addition, they were sentenced to five years in prison and fines of RS50,000 each for attempting to kill police personnel; four years in prison and a fine of RS40,000 each for burning motorcycles; Another four years in prison and one RS40,000 fined each for setting the police station on fire; Three months in prison for hindering police work; and one month in prison for violation of section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC).

The cases on May 9 refer to violent attacks on state installations that followed the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan on corruption taxes in 2023. A number of individuals were arrested in these cases, which have been prosecuted by both military courts and anti-terrorism courts in different cities.

ATCs across the country continue to hear related cases. In April, a three-member bench from the Supreme Court directed, led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, ATCs to end the case in May 9 within four months.

In Lahore, 14 cases remain pending in two ATCs that currently hear them daily at Kot Lakhpat Central Prison. However, a judge noted in one of these courts that the case of the lawsuit created significant obstacles to comply with the Supreme Court’s deadline.

ATC -Administrative Judge Manzer Ali Gill wrote to Punjab -Prosecutor General Syed Farhad Ali Shah, where he said police registers were not delivered to the Deputy Communment, which held the trial for various reasons.

The judge emphasized that the case had been brought under the prosecution office to take the necessary steps to ensure that witnesses could be registered on each consultation date. He warned that the court would not continue under the law.

It has been observed that the majority of 9. Maj -Cases have been exposed to postponements due to the inaccessibility of relevant items. On each consultation date, police officers have informed the courts that the Case Register remains in the Supreme Court.

(With input from our Lahore -correspondent)