Sargodha ATC delivers verdict in May 9 case involving PTI leaders

SARGODHA: An anti-terrorism court in Sargodha has delivered its verdict in the May 9 violence case linked to the attack on the Mianwali Judicial Complex, involving several leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), ARY News reported.

According to reports, the court sentenced Muhammad Ismail, one of the arrested PTI workers, to life imprisonment. In addition to the life term, the court has imposed a fine of Rs 3.5 million on him.

The verdict was announced by ATC Judge Muhammad Naeem Sheikh. The case is related to the attack on the Judicial Complex in Mianwali and was registered under FIR No. 349 at City Police Station Mianwali.

As part of the same case, the court declared 51 accused as proclaimed offenders, including Ahmed Khan Bhachar, Bilal Ejaz, and Ahmed Chattha. Former federal minister Omar Ayub has already been declared a proclaimed offender in this case.

The court has directed police to arrest the absconding suspects and produce them in court within one month.

The decision adds pressure on law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts to locate and arrest the remaining accused involved in the events of May 9.

Also Read: Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, other PTI leaders sentenced to 10 years in May 9 cases

Similarly on July 31, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Faisalabad sentenced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders including Omar Ayub, Zartaj Gul, Shibli Faraz to 10 years in prison in connection with the May 9 riots cases,

The ATC Faisalabad verdict, announced in cases registered at the Ghulam Muhammadabad and Civil Lines police stations (Case No. 1277 and Case No. 832), convicted 108 individuals, while 77 others were acquitted.

As per details, former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, Zain Qureshi, and Khayal Kastro were acquitted in these cases. On the other hand PTI MPA Junaid Afzal Sahi received a three-year prison term, while Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, nephew of Sheikh Rashid, SIC head Sahibzada Hamid Raza was also handed a 10-year sentence.

Other convicted PTI leaders include Rai Hassan Nawaz, Rai Murtaza Iqbal, Chaudhry Bilal Ijaz, Mrs. Farrukh Agha, Farkhunda Kokab, Kanwal Shauzab, Mohammad Ahmad Chattha, Chaudhry Asif Ali, Shakeel Ahmad Khan Niazi, Sardar Azimullah Khan, Mehr Muhammad Javed, and Muhammad Ansar Iqbal.

In the Ghulam Muhammadabad case, 60 out of 67 accused were convicted, while seven were acquitted in the Civil Lines case.