Lahore: A Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court on Friday delivered verdicts in two high-profile May 9 cases, sentencing Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mahmood Ul Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry and Umar Sarfaraz Cheema to ten years in prison each. The rulings relate to attacks on containers at Kalma Chowk and vehicle arson in Gulberg during nationwide PTI protests following former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9, 2023.
Judge Arshad Javed announced the verdicts at Kot Lakhpat Jail after completing the trials.
High-profile accused and trial details
The cases named 33 defendants, including Dr. Yasmin Rashid. The trials were completed for 29 defendants, while Mian Aslam Iqbal, Shabnam Jahangir, Ali Malik, and Shehzad Khurram were declared fugitives.
Prosecutors examined all 41 witnesses, and cross-examinations were concluded before the court delivered its judgment.
Sentences and acquittals
Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mahmood Ul Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, and Umar Sarfaraz Cheema received ten-year prison sentences. Additional defendants convicted include Irfan, Usman Siddiq, Muhammad Razaq, Waqar Bashir, Altaf Hussain, Ghulam Qasim, Hafiz Muhammad Mashhood, Muhammad Rafiq, Muhammad Zeeshan, Adnan Zakir, Ahmed Hassan, Shahid Mahmood, Ishtiaq (Bhola), Muhammad Wasim Gul, Muhammad Altaf, Muhammad Waqas, Haider Ali, Sanaullah, Muhammad Taimoor, Nair Irfan, Rashid Akram, Shoaib, Umair, Mian Khizr, Arif Hussain and Haider Ali Khan.
Meanwhile, former PTI foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has been acquitted in five May 9 cases. His trial in some cases could not proceed due to interim bail.
Context of the unrest
The May 9 protests were marked by violent incidents across Lahore, including attacks on containers and burning of vehicles. The cases are part of seven total May 9-related cases adjudicated so far in Lahore.
The verdicts highlight the continued legal scrutiny of PTI leaders involved in the May 9 unrest and set the stage for further trials and appeals in ongoing cases.
