Lahore: The Anti-Terrorism Court has sentenced PTI’s Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry, Sarfaraz Cheema and Mahmood Rashid to 10 years in prison each in the case of attack on the gate of Club Chowk GOR on May 9.
Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Manzar Ali Gul delivered the verdict in Kot Lakhpat Jail. The court had reserved the verdict on December 18.
The court acquitted former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi from the case.
The court sentenced a total of 13 accused while 9 accused were acquitted by the court. Shah Mehmood Qureshi is among those acquitted.
The court ordered the arrest and production of the 4 accused who were declared as proclaimed offenders. Those declared as proclaimed offenders include Farooq Anjum, Habib Ahmed, Arsalan and Akbar Khan.
A total of 56 prosecution witnesses recorded their statements in the case.
25 accused including Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Omar Sarfraz, Ijaz Chaudhry and Mahmood Rashid are named in the case. The challan of the 25 accused in the case was presented before the court.
The Race Course Police Station has registered a case of attack on the Club Chowk GOR Gate.
According to the text of the FIR, the accused broke the security cameras of the Club Chowk GOR Gate, the accused also broke the police wireless and the windows of the GOR Gate. The accused damaged government property and attacked police officials.
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The PTI leaders are accused of inciting the workers to revolt and riot on May 9.
The court ruled in its decision that the prosecution was successful in proving the charges against some of the accused, on the basis of which Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry and Omar Sarfaraz Cheema were sentenced to ten years in prison each. Along with the sentence, the court has also imposed a fine of five million rupees on each accused. In case of non-payment of the fine, the accused will have to serve another year in prison. In addition, the court has also ordered the confiscation of the properties of the convicted accused.
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The court, giving a decision based on the evidence, acquitted Shah Mehmood Qureshi from the case. The court decision said that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against Shah Mehmood Qureshi, due to which he is acquitted by giving the benefit of doubt.
According to the prosecution, a total of 56 witnesses were presented in this case, who recorded statements regarding the attack on Club Chowk and GOR Gate on May 9. The accused were accused of vandalizing Club Chowk with an organized mob, damaging security cameras and attacking the GOR Gate.
According to the police, the Race Course Police Station had filed a challan against a total of 25 accused in the case. During the hearing, four accused went into hiding fearing punishment, who were later declared as proclaimed offenders by the court. The accused declared as proclaimed offenders include Habib Ahmed, Farooq Anjum, Arsalan and Akbar Khan.
The prosecution took the stand that a mob led by Hammad Azhar created a ruckus at Club Chowk, damaged public and private property and attacked the GOR Gate. According to the prosecutor, some PTI leaders incited the workers to revolt, violence and riots and the events of May 9 were carried out under a systematic conspiracy and planning.
The court said in its verdict that attacks and violence on state facilities are intolerable and no concessions can be made to the elements involved in such crimes. According to the court, tough decisions are inevitable for the rule of law and the protection of public life and property.
After the verdict was pronounced, security around Kot Lakhpat Jail was further tightened, while reactions to the verdict have also started emerging in various political circles. According to legal experts, the convicted accused can approach higher courts against this verdict, where the case will be re-examined legally.
It may be recalled that two years ago, on May 9, 2023, after the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan by Rangers personnel from the premises of the Islamabad High Court, a series of violent protests had started across the country, in which military properties were also attacked.
After this, a series of arrests of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders and workers began, resulting in several arrests across the country.
During the trial, the final statements of 21 accused, including Dr. Yasmin Rashid, were recorded.
The prosecution presented 56 witnesses in court. Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Manzar Ali Gul delivered the verdict in the case. During the trial, four accused were declared as proclaimed offenders.
The court acquitted a total of 13 accused. The court sentenced eight accused.
