An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday sentenced several senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders to 10 years in prison over their involvement in the May 9 riots. The verdict marks another major legal setback for the opposition party as cases linked to the violent protests continue to reach conclusions.
ATC Hands Down Verdict Inside Kot Lakhpat Jail
ATC Judge Arshad Javed announced the verdict during proceedings held inside Kot Lakhpat Jail. Those sentenced include Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omer Sarfraz Cheema, Mian Mehmoodur Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, and other party workers.
The convictions relate to two separate cases registered by Gulberg and Naseerabad police. Both cases stem from incidents of arson and vandalism during the May 9 unrest in Lahore.
The Gulberg case involved the burning of vehicles, while the Naseerabad case focused on the torching of a container at Kalma Chowk. Prosecutors argued that the accused incited and participated in violent acts during protests following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan.
Case Details and Breakdown of Sentences
In the Gulberg case, police named 33 individuals in the chargesheet. The court sentenced seven suspects, including Dr Yasmin Rashid, to 10 years in prison. Twenty-two accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence. Four individuals were declared absconders.
In the Kalma Chowk container arson case, the ATC sentenced 24 people to 10 years each. Five suspects were acquitted, while seven were declared absconding. PTI leader Mian Aslam Iqbal was declared an absconder in both cases.
These convictions follow five earlier sentences handed down to Rashid, Cheema, Mahmoodur Rashid, and Chaudhry in other May 9-related cases. The rulings reflect a pattern of strict judicial outcomes in cases tied to the riots.
A day earlier, another ATC had also sentenced the same PTI leaders and three others to 10 years in a separate case linked to the May 9 violence. However, senior PTI figure and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was acquitted in that case along with 13 other accused.
Background of May 9 Riots and Wider Legal Fallout
The May 9 riots erupted in 2023 after Imran Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court premises in a corruption case. Thousands of PTI supporters took to the streets across the country. Several public buildings and military installations were attacked.
Targets included the Corps Commander House in Lahore and the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. The violence marked one of the most serious episodes of civil unrest in Pakistan’s recent history.
Following the riots, hundreds of PTI leaders and workers were arrested. While some were later released on bail, many remain incarcerated as trials continue under anti-terrorism laws.
Earlier on Saturday, Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were also sentenced to 17 years in prison each in the Toshakhana-2 case. The court found them guilty of purchasing luxury state gifts at undervalued prices. This conviction adds to Imran Khan’s growing list of sentences, as he remains behind bars since August 2023, already serving time in a separate land corruption case.
Together, these rulings underscore the deepening legal and political crisis facing PTI and its leadership.
