Dr Yasmin Rashid, other PTI leaders awarded 10-year sentences in May 9 cases
Former prime minister Imran Khan addressing a media briefing along with Dr Yasmin Rashid on February 19, 2023. SCREENGRAB
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Tuesday handed down ten-year jail term to senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Dr Yasmin Rashid, for their alleged involvement in the arson of a high court judge’s convoy vehicle during the May 9, 2023 protests.
The verdict was announced by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul after concluding the jail trial in a case registered under FIR No 109/23 at Sarwar Road police station. The incident took place amid widespread protests following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan.
Besides the former provincial health minister, Punjab governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and party leaders Ejaz Chaudhry and Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed have also been awarded 10-year jail terms. PTI supporter Khadija Shah was convicted and awarded a five-year imprisonment.
The court, however, acquitted PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and two women Rubina Jamil and Afshan Tariq on grounds of insufficient evidence.
Read More: May 9: Lahore ATC also finds PTI leaders guilty
A total of 51 individuals, including five women, were named in the case, out of which 39 underwent full trial proceedings held inside jail premises, while, 12 were declared absconders.
This is the third conviction of Dr Yasmin in connection with the May 9 violence. The 72-year-old was previously sentenced to ten years in prison by an ATC in Lahore on July 22. In that case, the court acquitted six PTI leaders, including Qureshi and Hamza Azeem, while convicting ten others.
A special ATC in Faisalabad, on July 31, sentenced 108 PTI leaders — including Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul, MNA Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and former MNA Sheikh Rashid Shafiq — ten years in prison in connection with similar incidents while 77 others were acquitted.
On August 12, the same ATC in Lahore convicted Dr Yasmin, Cheema, Chaudhry, and Rasheed, sentencing them to ten years in prison. PTI leaders Aliya Hamza and Sanam Javed were also convicted in that case and each received five-year term.