An anti -terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore acquitted on Monday to the leader of PTI, Shah Mahmod Qureshi, in two cases more related to the disturbances of May 9, while sentenced Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudry, Omar Sarfraz Chema and Mihmoodur Rashid to 10 years in prison.
On May 9, 2023, the supporters of PTI, the arrest of the founder of protest of the Imran Khan party, organized violent protests throughout the country, after which thousands were arrested.
The ATC had reserved its verdict in both cases on Saturday related to the disturbances of May 9: the attack of the Shadman Police Station and the burning of police vehicles near the Jinnah house, after completing the procedures in the Kot Lakhpat prison. The judge concluded the hearings inside the jail in two sessions throughout the day.
The ATC-I Judge Manzer Ali Gill announced the trials today and sentenced Dr. Yasmin, Chaudhry, Chema and Rashid in both cases.
The leaders of PTI Aliya Hamza and Sanam Javed were also sentenced to five years in prison in the case of Shadman.
The lawyer Mudassar confirmed today’s sentence to Dawn.com.
In the case of the Shadman Police Station, the Court accused 25 accused of 41 nominated in the Challan and registered statements of 45 witnesses of prosecution. At least 15 defendants have been declared criminals proclaimed in this case.
In the case of a history of police vehicles, the Court accused 17 defendants, declared seven criminals proclaimed and registered statements of 65 witnesses of prosecution.
Last month, Lahore ATC had acquitted Qureshi while sentenced Dr. Yasmin, Chaudhry, Chema, Rashid and others to 10 years in prison for a case of disturbances on May 9 related to violence in the Sherpao bridge.
Sarwar Road Police had registered a case against PTI leaders and workers for looting and burning public property at the Sherpao bridge in the acantonation area during violent protests.
Chaudhry had filed two requests in the Superior Court of Lahore on Saturday, supplying the court to suspend his sentence and condemn, along with ordering his bail release. In addition, he asked the court in the second petition to put aside his conviction and acquit him in the case in the “interest of justice.”
PTI’s Gohaha’s convictions explode
The president of the PTI, the lawyer Gohar Ali Khan, assaulted the convictions, saying: “We have said before if the injustice will prosper, then the voice of the people will be silenced.”
Lasting that the mandate of the PTI was stolen, Gohar said that the government did not have the respect or vote of the people and did not have the confidence of the people.
“However, we sat down [in parliament] So that we could move forward and protect the nation, save democracy, free the courts and guarantee the supremacy of order.
“If this blade of injustice does not stop, the nation will suffer a great loss,” he warned.
“We condemn the judgments and reject them,” Gohar added. “Justice has been murdered.”
The president of PTI also said that the party condemned the riots on May 9, stating that they should not have happened and that they should not happen again. However, he added that the party presented a petition requesting an audience on the accusations.
“That audience has not happened, our request was ignored and a decision was not made,” he said.
“Because the courts did not grant us justice, political tensions and instability increased. We do not obtain justice and remain murdered,” Gohar emphasized.
He said that the president of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami party, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, said the right thing: “People need to get up, their voice cannot be silenced.
“We will continue our movement until the true leader of the sixth largest party in the world is released.”
Referring to those convicted in today’s audience, Gohar said that party members were voices who were representatives of the State who did not tolerate violence against them.
“If their voices are silenced, if the injustice knife sinks more deeply, then there will be a lot of division. This must end,” Gohar emphasized.
According to Gohar, the president of the president of Pakistan (CJP) summoned the leadership of the party, who requested a meeting with Imran. “He (the CJP) said he is looking for judicial reforms and that he would allow us to meet Imran in Adiala,” Gohar recalled.
“Six months have passed and there has been no meeting. We present a privileged motion to meet Imran, but there has been no action about it.
“We even submit applications and raise the problem in Parliament, but nothing happened,” he added.
