Lahore ATC orders Qureshi’s release after acquittal in two May 9 cases
ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill, in continuation of his earlier verdict, issued directives to the superintendent of Kot Lakhpat Jail to free Qureshi if he is not required in any other matter.
The verdict came after the court had reserved its judgment late last week upon hearing arguments from both parties, announcing the decision on Monday.
In the same ruling, the court sentenced Dr Yasmin Rashid, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, former Punjab governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and several others to 10 years imprisonment for their role in the May 9 riots that erupted following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan in a corruption case, during which multiple military installations were attacked by protestors.
Thousands of PTI supporters had stormed public property and army facilities — including the Corps Commander’s House in Lahore — during the May 2023 demonstrations against the detention of the former prime minister.
During the unrest, the supporters of Imran the only prime minister in Pakistan’s history to be ousted via a no-confidence vote — targeted civil and military installations, including the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
Several PTI leaders and workers were released on bail after their arrests, while many remain behind bars.
The deposed prime minister, incarcerated since August 2023, faces a slew of charges ranging from corruption to terrorism following his removal from office.
A day earlier, Dr Yasmin, Sarfraz Cheema, Ejaz Chaudhry, Rasheed, Ayesha Ali Bhutta, Muhammad Fahim, Niaz Ahmed, Ali Hasan, Zain Ali, Asad Ali, Bilal Wajahat, Bilal Bashir, Muhammad Qasim, and Zain ul Hassan sentenced to 10 years each.
In the Jinnah House vehicle torching case, the court sentenced Rashid, Cheema, Chaudhry, Rasheed, Ayesha Ali Bhutta, Muhammad Fahim, Niaz Ahmed, Ali Hasan, Zain Ali, Asad Ali, Bilal Wajahat, Bilal Bashir, Muhammad Qasim, and Zain ul Hassan to 10 years each.
Hafiz Muhammad Arshad was also handed the same sentence. Aliya Hamza and Sanam Javed were awarded five years each.
In the same case, Qureshi, Abrar, Amjad, Faisal, Jamil, Saadia, and Tasneem were acquitted.
Meanwhile, apart from sentencing Dr Yasmin, Rasheed, Chaudhry and Cheema to 10 years, the court has also ordered seizure of properties of the politicians in relation to their involvement in the case relating to torching of Shadman Police Station.
The PTI leaders have also been awarded a fine of Rs600,000 and would face further incarceration in case of its non-payment.
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