LAHORE; In a major blow to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday sentenced several senior party figures including Dr Yasmin Rashid and Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed to 10 years imprisonment in a case linked to the violent protests of May 9, 2023.
The same punishment was also handed to former Punjab governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, and Afzal Azeem Pahat, as the court announced its reserved verdict.
However, the court acquitted former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, along with Hamza Azeem Pahat, Rana Tanveer, and Aizaz Rafiq, citing insufficient evidence.
Earlier the same day, another ATC in Sargodha sentenced Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachar, MNA Mohammad Ahmed Chattha, and several other PTI workers to 10-year jail terms for involvement in vandalism during the May 9 protests.
Bhachar has rejected the ruling, terming it politically driven and constitutionally flawed. He vowed to challenge the decision in the high court, accusing the government of exerting undue influence on the judiciary.
The May 9 riots erupted across the country following the arrest of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan from the Islamabad High Court premises in a corruption case. Protesters attacked public and military properties, including Lahore’s Jinnah House. Thousands were arrested in the aftermath, with many top PTI leaders still incarcerated.
Adding to PTI’s legal troubles, the Lahore High Court (LHC) recently rejected Khan’s bail in eight May 9-related cases, including the attack on military installations.
Reacting to Tuesday’s rulings, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan denounced the sentences as unjust and lacking due legal process. He criticized the judiciary for repeatedly relying on the same two witnesses in multiple cases and claimed the judiciary had “collapsed.” Lawyer Salman Akram Raja echoed the sentiment, arguing the credibility of witness testimony was questionable and the proceedings undermined democracy.
In contrast, Minister of State for Law Barrister Aqeel Malik defended the verdicts, asserting all legal procedures were followed. He dismissed PTI’s objections as politically motivated and emphasized the Constitution was upheld throughout the trial.
