LAHORE:The Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court(ATC) has ordered the seizure of properties of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfaraz Cheema, Mahmood-ul-Rashid and Ijaz Chaudhry.
Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Manzar Ali Gul heard two cases related to May 9 in Kot Lakhpat Jail. Where the verdict was pronounced in the Shadman Town police station arson case and the Rahat Bakery outside arson and encirclement case.
The court, while announcing the verdict in both cases yesterday, sentenced the four accused to 10 years in prison and a fine of Rs 6.6 lakh each. Cases were registered against the convicted accused in Shadman and Sarwar Road police stations.
In the verdict, the court acquitted former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in both the cases. A warrant has also been issued to the Superintendent Jail to send Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfaraz Cheema, Mahmood-ul-Rashid and Ijaz Chaudhry to jail. The court clarified that the properties of the accused will be confiscated and taken into government custody.
In addition, the court sentenced PTI Punjab Chief Organizer Alia Hamza and Sanam Javed to five years in prison each in the Shadman police station arson case.
The anti-terrorism court convicted 13 accused in the Shadman police station arson case and acquitted 12 accused. Similarly, the court convicted seven accused in the arson and violence case outside Rahat Bakery and acquitted 10 accused.
It may be recalled that on July 31, the anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad had sentenced the central leadership of PTI, including Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, Senator Shibli Faraz and Zartaj Gul, to 10 years in prison in the May 09 violence cases and acquitted Fawad Chaudhry from the case.
On July 22, the Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court sentenced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry and Sarfaraz Cheema to 10 years in prison each in the Sherpao Bridge arson and encirclement case, while acquitting six accused, including Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Hamza Azeem.
On the same day, the Sargodha Anti-Terrorism Court sentenced 32 PTI leaders and workers, including Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmed Khan Bachhar and Member of National Assembly Ahmed Chatha, to 10 years in prison each in the Mianwali protest case on May 9, 2023.
The court had announced its verdict in case number 72 registered at Musakhel police station in Mianwali regarding the May 09, 2023 incident. The court had charged the accused with violent protest, riot and other serious charges.
On May 9, 2023, after Imran Khan was arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court in the Al-Qadir Trust case, a nationwide protest was held by the PTI.
Meanwhile, in Lahore’s Model Town area, in addition to burning the PML-N office on May 9, military, civil and private installations were set on fire, causing severe damage to government and private property, while at least 8 people were killed and 290 injured.
The protesters also stormed the residence of the Corps Commander in Lahore, also known as Jinnah House, and broke a gate of the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
After this, 1900 people involved in fighting, vandalism and arson with law enforcement agencies across the country were arrested, while cases were also registered against Imran Khan and his party leaders and workers.
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