PTI’s Yasmin, Ejaz indicted in rioting case

Politicians plead not guilty; express resolve to contest charges

LAHORE:

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Punjab’s provincial capital on Tuesday indicted PTI leaders, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Senator Ejaz Chaudhary and Rubina Jamil, in cases related to allegedly setting police vehicles ablaze at Rahat Bakery Chowk during the May 9 violence.

The accused were presented for trial before ATC Judge Abher Gul Khan, who presided over the indictment process. The accused pleaded not guilty and expressed their intent to contest the charges.

The court later adjourned till December 16 while summoning prosecution witnesses to record their statements. The court had distributed charge sheets to the accused in the prior hearing.

Two separate cases were registered by Sarwar Road police. Dr Yasmin Rashid and Ejaz Chaudhry were named in FIR no 108/23 and Rubina Jamil in FIR no 109/23, both related to the torching of police vehicles in the cantonment area at Rahat Bakery Chowk on May 9.

Read More: May 9 riots were Pakistan's ‘9/11 attack' on its national interests: Iqbal

Authorities registered criminal cases against PTI leaders, workers and social media activists in the wake of violence that erupted across the country after the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on May 9.

Many PTI leaders and supporters in Lahore were booked for attacking Lahore Corps Commander House, Askari Tower, Shadman police station as well as creating law and order problems, anarchy, setting ablaze police vans and the PML-N party offices, damaging public properties and injuring police officials.

The Punjab Police later booked a number of accused also under Sections 121 (waging or attempting to wage a war or abetting in waging of war against Pakistan); 131 (abetting mutiny, or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty) and 146 (rioting) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Read More: ‘May 9 rioters must pay for damages’

A number of PTI leaders , workers and supporter were also charged under Sections 120 (concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment); Section 120-A (criminal conspiracy); Section 120-B (punishment of criminal conspiracy); Section 121-A (waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against Pakistan); Section 505 (statements creating public mischief); Section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot); Section 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups); Section 153-B (students take part in political activity) and 107 (abetment) of the PPC.

The joint investigation teams (JITs) constituted to investigate these incidents have declared hundreds of PTI activists including former premier Imran Khan and other party leaders as prime suspects. They accused that the PTI leadership masterminded May 9 incidents.