LAHORE – An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore on Monday acquitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi in two separate cases linked to the May 9, 2023 riots. The same court, however, awarded 10-year prison sentences to Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and Mian Mehmoodur Rashid.
The cases were tied to violent protests that erupted across Pakistan following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan. During the unrest, incidents of vandalism, attacks on police stations, and destruction of public property were reported nationwide, leading to the arrest of thousands.
The ATC had reserved its verdict on Saturday in two major cases — the attack on Shadman Police Station and the torching of police vehicles near Jinnah House. The hearings, held at Kot Lakhpat Jail, were concluded by ATC-I Judge Manzer Ali Gill in two sessions.
Sentences and Convictions
- Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and Mian Mehmoodur Rashid were convicted in both cases and handed 10-year jail terms.
- PTI leaders Aliya Hamza and Sanam Javed received five-year sentences in the Shadman Police Station case.
- Advocate Rana Mudassar confirmed the court’s decision to Dawn.com.
In the Shadman case, 25 suspects were indicted out of 41 named in the challan, while 15 were declared proclaimed offenders. The court heard testimonies from 45 prosecution witnesses.
In the police vehicle torching case, 17 suspects were indicted, 7 declared proclaimed offenders, and statements from 65 witnesses were recorded.
Previous Related Convictions
Last month, the Lahore ATC had already acquitted Qureshi in another May 9 case but sentenced Dr Yasmin, Chaudhry, Cheema, Rashid, and others to 10 years in prison for violence at Sherpao Bridge. That case, registered by Sarwar Road Police, accused PTI members of damaging public property during protests in the Cantonment area.
Ejaz Chaudhry recently filed two petitions in the Lahore High Court — one seeking suspension of his sentence and bail, and another requesting his conviction be overturned “in the interest of justice.”
