Lahore:
An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore has acquitted six Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Hamza Azeem, in connection with May 9, while sentenced to 10 others, including Dr. Yasmin Rashid and Mian Mehmood-Bur-Rasheed, for 10 years in prison in prison in prison.
The court handed down its judgment in the case of inflammatory speeches and vandalism at the Sherpao bridge. The court, which had completed final arguments from both defense and prosecution, reserved for his decision before announcing the decision.
The verdict stated that ATC acquitted Qureshi, Azeem and four other accused persons due to insufficient evidence. However, the court found 10 others guilty and handed in 10-year prison sentences for their role in the violence that followed the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan.
The case involves violent protests and damage caused by public and private property, including arson and vandalism incidents that broke out on May 9 following the arrest of the former prime minister.
Previously, an ATC in Sargodha’s opposition leader in the Punjab assembly, PTI’s Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachar and other party workers sentenced to 10 years in prison each.
They were found guilty of involvement in creating law and order disorders, anarchy and arson during the riots on May 9, which broke out after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan.
The ATC judge handed the verdict after hearing detailed arguments and found that the prosecution had created his case. The defense advisers claimed that the defendants were not involved in the charges brought against them, claiming that these were politically motivated cases.
May 9th riots
Riot 9 May broke out nationwide after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, after which PTI leaders and workers staged protests aimed at both civilian and military installations, including Jinnah House and General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
The military condemned the events as a “black day” and decided to try the protesters under the Army Act.
As a result of the turmoil, many PTI members were arrested and tried in military courts. In December, a military court sentenced 25 individuals, including Imran Khan’s nephew, Hassan Khan Niazi, and later sentenced 60.
In January, 19 had their sentences pardoned after successful mercy appeals, although PTI expressed dissatisfaction with the limited number of pardens.
The military lawsuits had originally been stopped after a Supreme Court Recovery, but were resumed following the court’s instructions to end pending cases and advertise judgments for those involved in the violent incidents.
