An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore has delivered its verdict in a case related to the May 9 unrest, sentencing four leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to 10 years of imprisonment each. The court also acquitted senior PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who was also nominated in the case.
ATC Verdict Details
ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul announced the reserved judgment at Kot Lakhpat Jail in a case concerning the torching of police vehicles during the May 9 protests. The court sentenced PTI leaders Mahmoodur Rasheed, Omar Cheema, Ejaz Chaudhry, and Dr. Yasmin Rashid to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment each.
Acquittal of Shah Mahmood Qureshi
However, the court acquitted former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who had been nominated in the same case. The prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence against him.
The May 9 incidents involved violent protests following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan, during which several police vehicles were set on fire and public property was damaged. The ATC had been hearing the case for several months before reserving the verdict.
