LAHORE – An anti-terrorism court delivered key verdict in May 9 riots cases, acquitting former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi while sentencing four senior PTI leaders to 10 years in prison.
Senior leaders like Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, and Ejaz Chaudhry are sentenced for 10 years amid legal proceedings stemming from the nationwide unrest that followed Imran Khan’s arrest in May 2023.
The verdict, announced by ATC-I Judge Manzer Ali Gill, is the latest in a string of rulings tied to the violent protests that erupted across Pakistan following PTI founder Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9, 2023.
Inside a heavily guarded makeshift courtroom at Kot Lakhpat Jail, the court delivered a judgment that once again underscored the contrasting fortunes of PTI’s top leadership. While Qureshi walked free after the court found insufficient evidence against him, four senior party figures were convicted alongside several workers.
The case stemmed from allegations that PTI leaders and supporters attacked and torched police vehicles in Lahore’s Mughalpura area during the nationwide unrest that followed Khan’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
Prosecutors argued that the accused were not merely participants in the protests but played a role in mobilising supporters and encouraging acts of violence. To support their claims, the prosecution produced 37 witnesses and maintained that the evidence linked the accused to attacks on police property and public disorder.
A total of 22 PTI leaders and workers were named in the case, while two suspects were earlier declared proclaimed offenders after failing to appear before the court.
May 9 Riots
May 9 riots were series of violent protests that erupted across Pakistan on May 9, 2023 after arrest of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case. What began as demonstrations against his detention quickly escalated into nationwide unrest, with protesters targeting military installations, government buildings, police stations, and other public property in several major cities.
Among the most prominent incidents were attacks on the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, Lahore’s Corps Commander House (Jinnah House), and the Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar. The violence resulted in deaths, hundreds of injuries, extensive property damage, and billions of rupees in losses.
Authorities later launched nationwide crackdown, arresting thousands of PTI supporters and leaders while imposing temporary restrictions on internet and social media services. Although Imran Khan was later released after the Supreme Court declared his arrest unlawful, numerous legal cases linked to the riots continued.
May 9 riots first anniversary: Timeline of Pakistan’s Political Landscape over the past year
