LAHORE – An anti‑terrorism court (ATC) reserved its decision after concluding proceedings in a case involving the burning of police vehicles in Mughalpura during the May 9 riots.
Judge Manzer Ali Gill headed the hearing, and the verdict will be announced on June 20, following the final arguments of the prosecution and defense.
During the trial, 37 witnesses for the prosecution gave their statements to the court.
Police charged several Pakistan Tehreek‑i‑Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Umar Sarfraz Cheema, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry and Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, with the offense.
The prosecution sought convictions on charges of attacks, vandalism and the arson of police vehicles following the events of May 9.
All the accused, except Mr Qureshi, have already been sentenced by ATCs in five related cases, such as the attack on Shadman police station, violence at Sherpao Bridge, burning of police vehicles near Rahat Bakery, and the torching of a Supreme Court judge’s squad vehicle near Jinnah House.
Charges include abetment of violence and criminal conspiracy, with each offender receiving an average sentence of ten years.
Mr Qureshi was acquitted in all five cases because he was not in Lahore on the day of the incidents.
The May 9 riots erupted after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan by the National Accountability Bureau at the Islamabad High Court premises, triggering attacks on military facilities and public property across the country by PTI leaders and workers.
