ATC sentences Yasmin Rashid, other PTI leaders to 10 years in May 9 GOR gate case; Shah Mehmood acquitted

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday sentenced senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr Yasmin Rashid and several other party figures to 10 years’ imprisonment each in a case linked to the May 9, 2023, violence in Lahore, while acquitting former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and 13 co-accused.

The verdict was announced by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul inside Kot Lakhpat Jail. Those sentenced include Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omer Sarfraz Cheema, Mian Mehmoodur Rashid and Ejaz Chaudhry, along with three others. The court noted that four accused in the case had earlier been declared proclaimed offenders.

The case was registered by the Race Course Police Station and pertains to an attack on the GOR-1 gate near Club Chowk during the May 9 unrest.

According to the first information report (FIR), the accused were involved in damaging government property, including security cameras and police wireless equipment, breaking glass panels at the GOR gate, and assaulting police personnel.

During the trial, final statements of 21 accused were recorded, while the prosecution presented 56 witnesses to support its case. The prosecution alleged that the violence was carried out by a mob led by PTI leader Hammad Azhar, and that party leaders incited workers to engage in rioting and vandalism.

The court ensured the presence of both detained accused and those out on bail before announcing the verdict.

This marks the fifth conviction in May 9-related cases for Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omer Sarfraz Cheema, Mian Mehmoodur Rashid and Ejaz Chaudhry. In contrast, Shah Mehmood Qureshi was acquitted in the case concerning the GOR-1 gate attack.