An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Tuesday acquitted former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi while sentencing PTI leaders Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, and ex-Punjab governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema to 10 years in prison over a May 9 riots case linked to the burning of police vehicles near Jinnah House. PTI activist and fashion designer Khadija Shah received a five-year sentence.
The case stems from the unrest on May 9, 2023, following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan from Islamabad High Court premises. Rioters vandalised and torched government offices, military installations, and attempted to enter the Lahore corps commander’s residence.
Sarwar Road Police had filed the case against the PTI leaders for allegedly setting police vehicles on fire near Jinnah House. ATC Judge Manzer Ali Gill oversaw the trial, which involved 51 accused, 12 of whom were declared absconders. The verdict follows a series of similar rulings in other May 9 cases, with repeated acquittals for Qureshi and prison terms for other party leaders.
