An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Monday announced its verdict in a case linked to the May 9 unrest, acquitting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi while sentencing several senior party leaders to prison.
The decision was delivered by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul at Kot Lakhpat Jail. The case concerned the alleged burning of police vehicles during the nationwide protests that erupted on May 9.
According to the court ruling, senior PTI leaders Mahmoodur Rasheed, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Ejaz Chaudhry, and Dr. Yasmin Rashid were each sentenced to 10 years in prison. The leaders were found guilty in connection with the incident and were awarded jail terms under the relevant laws.
The verdict marks another significant development in the legal proceedings related to the May 9 events. Multiple cases have been filed across the country against PTI leaders and workers following the unrest that broke out after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
While several PTI leaders were sentenced in the case, Shah Mahmood Qureshi received relief from the court. The former foreign minister had also been nominated in the same case. However, the court concluded that the evidence presented against him was insufficient, leading to his acquittal.
The ruling creates mixed outcomes for the PTI leadership. On one hand, key party figures have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms. On the other hand, Qureshi has been cleared of the charges in this particular case.
The May 9 incidents remain among the most significant political and legal developments in recent years. Courts across Pakistan continue to hear cases linked to the protests and acts of vandalism reported during the unrest.
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With this latest judgment, four senior PTI leaders have been sentenced to 10 years in prison, while Shah Mahmood Qureshi has been acquitted. The case is expected to remain in the spotlight as legal proceedings related to May 9 continue in various courts across the country.
