Shah Mahmood Qureshi's release orders issued in May 9 cases

LAHORE: An Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore ordered to release former foreign minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in two May 9 cases, ARY News reported.

As per details, the court issued a letter to the jail superintendent in connection with Jinnah House attack and Shadman Police Station riots cases, stating if the PTI vice chairman is not wanted in another case, he should be released from jail.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi is booked in 14 cases in Lahore, he is acquitted in three cases whereas 11 cases are still pending against him.

Yesterday, ATC Lahore sentenced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhary and others, acquitted party’s vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Jinnah House Attack case.

The An Anti-Terrorism Court announced its verdicts in two high-profile cases related to May 9 riots, including the Jinnah House attack and arson incidents near Shadman police station.

The verdicts announced by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill at Kot Lakhpat Jail, have acquitted several individuals while sentencing others to prison terms.

In the Jinnah House attack case, where vehicles were set ablaze near the Corps Commander’s residence, former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was acquitted along with six others, including Sohail Khan, Awais, Rafiuddin, Farid Khan, Salman Ahmed, Abdul Qadir, and Faizan, due to insufficient evidence.

However, the court sentenced PTI leaders Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, and Omar Sarfraz Cheema to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. Aisha Bhutta was also handed a 10-year sentence in the same case.

In a related case involving arson and siege at Shadman police station, Shah Mehmood Qureshi was acquitted alongside 11 others, including Sohail Khan, Awais, Rafiuddin, Farid Khan, Salman Ahmed, Abdul Qadir, Faizan, Tayyab Sultan, Shahid Baig, Majid Ali, and Bakht Rawan.

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The court, however, convicted PTI leaders Alia Hamza and Sanam Javed, sentencing them to five years in prison each for their involvement.

It is worth mentioning here that on July 22 an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore sentenced several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders including Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, and Senator Ejaz Chaudhry to 10 years in prison and acquitted Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a case pertaining to arson and vandalism on May 9.

The court also ordered the acquittal of Hamza Azim and five other accused individuals, clearing them of charges related to the May 9 riots.

The trial court pronounced its reserved verdict in the case related to rioting at Sherpao Bridge on May, 2023 following PTI founder Imran Khan’s arrest.

Ali Hassan, Afzal Azeem Khalid Qayyum, Riaz Hussain, and former Punjab Governor Umar Sarfraz Cheema are among those jailed for 10 years.

May 9 violence

Violent clashes were broken out across Pakistan after former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested on May 9, 2023.

The protests were held in remote and major cities as the party workers were agitated due to their chairman’s arrest, with Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad summoning the armed forces to ensure law and order.

Army installations, including Corps Commander’s house in Lahore, had come under attack during the protests by PTI workers.