ATC convicts four PTI leaders, acquits Shah Mahmood Qureshi in May 9 case

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Saturday sentenced four senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders to 10 years in prison in a case linked to the torching of police vehicles during the May 9, 2023 unrest, while former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was cleared of all charges.

ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul announced the reserved verdict inside Kot Lakhpat Jail, where the accused are being held. Those convicted are Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Mahmood ur Rashid and Ejaz Chaudhry.

The case had been registered against 22 accused, including Qureshi, Dr Rashid and Chaudhry, over the burning of police vehicles during the violence that followed the events of May 9 last year.

The court had reserved its decision after defence lawyers completed their final arguments. Before that stage, the prosecution had recorded statements from 37 witnesses in the case.