Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former Punjab Health Minister, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, has filed appeals in the Lahore High Court (LHC) against the prison sentences handed to her in three separate cases related to the May 9 incidents. The appeals argue that the anti-terrorism court (ATC) that convicted her failed to properly assess the facts and that its verdicts are not supported by the evidence presented during the trials.
Through her lawyer, Dr. Rashid has petitioned the high court to suspend the sentences and order her release on bail pending a final decision on her appeals. The cases are part of the widespread legal crackdown that followed the violent protests on May 9 last year, which were triggered by the arrest of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.
Dr. Rashid was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison in each of the three cases. The convictions are for her alleged involvement in the attack on Shadman Police Station, an arson incident near Sherpao Bridge, and the burning of vehicles near Jinnah House in Lahore during the unrest.
The filing of these appeals marks a significant step in the legal battle surrounding the May 9 events. The Lahore High Court’s decision on whether to grant bail and suspend the sentences will be closely watched, as it will set a precedent for numerous other PTI leaders and workers who face similar charges and convictions from the same period.
