254 PTI leaders, workers indicted in May 9 cases

LAHORE: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore on Tuesday indicted 254 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers in connection with the violent attack on Jinnah House during the May 9 riots.

ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul presided over the hearing, which was held inside Kot Lakhpat Jail due to security concerns.

The court framed charges against several prominent PTI figures, including Aaliya Hamza, Rubina Jamil, Khadija Shah, Ijaz Chaudhry, Umar Sarfraz Cheema, and Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, among others. All accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The judge has summoned prosecution witnesses for the next hearing.

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According to court records, two of the accused have died, while 10 others have already been declared absconders in the case.

The Jinnah House, a symbolically important military installation, was attacked and set ablaze during widespread protests following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 9, 2023.

The incident prompted a severe crackdown and numerous arrests under terrorism and public order laws.