An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Monday acquitted PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi in two cases linked to the May 9, 2023 riots, while sentencing Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and Mian Mehmoodur Rashid to 10 years in prison. The cases involved the attack on Shadman police station and the burning of police vehicles near Jinnah House. The verdicts were announced after hearings conducted inside Kot Lakhpat jail, where the judge reserved the decision on Saturday.
In addition to the 10-year sentences, the court handed down five-year prison terms to PTI leaders Aliya Hamza and Sanam Javed in the Shadman police station case. Advocate Rana Mudassar confirmed the sentencing, noting that the court had indicted 25 out of 41 accused in the Shadman case, with 15 declared proclaimed offenders. Meanwhile, in the police vehicle arson case, 17 were indicted, and 7 were declared absconders.
This marks the second major sentencing for Dr. Yasmin Rashid and others in May 9-related cases. Last month, the same ATC had sentenced them to 10 years in a separate case concerning violence at Sherpao Bridge, where PTI workers were accused of burning public property. Ejaz Chaudhry has since filed petitions in the Lahore High Court, seeking suspension of his sentence and acquittal in the “interest of justice.”
The May 9 riots, triggered by Imran Khan’s arrest, led to widespread arrests of PTI workers and leaders. While Qureshi’s acquittal provides some relief to the party, the convictions of key figures signal the judiciary’s firm stance on those accused of vandalism and arson. The PTI maintains that the cases are politically motivated, while authorities insist the trials uphold the rule of law. The legal battles are expected to continue as appeals are filed in higher courts.
