Barrister Gohar Ali Khan called the verdicts a failure of the judiciary and denied fair trial procedures.
An anti-terrorism court in Lahore sentenced multiple PTI leaders to 10 years in prison on Tuesday. Dr Yasmin Rashid and Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed were among those convicted in the May 9 riots case. Although, Lahore ATC had discharged Dr. Yasmin Rashid from Jinnah House attack case in 2023. Yet, her sentencing reveals she may not be relieved.
The court also sentenced Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Ejaz Chaudhry, and Afzal Azeem Pahat for their roles in the violence. Shah Mahmood Qureshi was acquitted by the court in the same case due to lack of evidence.
Others acquitted include Hamza Azeem Pahat, Rana Tanveer, and Aizaz Rafiq, also PTI members. Another anti-terrorism court in Sargodha sentenced Ahmed Khan Bachar and others to 10 years earlier today.
MNA Mohammad Ahmed Chattha and several PTI workers were convicted in the Sargodha vandalism case. The May 9 violence followed Imran Khan’s arrest in a corruption case by the Islamabad High Court.
Multiple cases were registered, including in Mianwali, after public property and army buildings were attacked. The Lahore High Court recently dismissed Imran Khan’s bail petitions in eight May 9-related cases.
These court decisions have intensified the legal challenges faced by the PTI leadership. PTI launched an anti-government campaign that is set to peak on August 5, under Imran Khan’s direction.
PTI reaction on verdict
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan called the verdicts a failure of the judiciary and denied fair trial procedures. He said the same two witnesses were used repeatedly in all May 9-related trials across the province.
Gohar also argued that trying a single case in multiple jurisdictions violates the Constitution. Salman Akram Raja said the convictions were a blow to democracy, not just political opponents.
He questioned the credibility of prosecution witnesses used in several similar cases. Minister of State for Law Barrister Aqeel Malik defended the rulings as fair and fully lawful. He accused PTI of ignoring legal processes and rejecting any verdict against them as biased.
The May 9 riots resulted in damage to army properties including Jinnah House in Lahore. Several PTI workers remain in jail while others were released on bail after their arrests. Imran Khan has been in prison since August 2023, facing various cases including terrorism and corruption.
