An anti-terrorism court in Lahore has acquitted senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi in cases linked to the arson and siege of Shadman police station, stemming from the violent protests on May 9.
The verdict was delivered by Judge Manzar Ali Gul inside Kot Lakhpat Jail.
On the other hand, four other PTI leaders – Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mahmood-ul-Rasheed, Ijaz Chaudhry, and Umar Sarfraz Cheema – were each sentenced to 10 years in prison for their involvement in the same incidents. Additionally, PTI activists Sanam Javed and Alia Hamza received 5-year jail terms and fines of Rs100,000 each.
The Shadman police station arson case involved 41 suspects, with 19 accused, including Qureshi, Rashid, Cheema, Chaudhry, Rasheed, Javed, and Hamza, facing trial. Fifteen suspects were declared absconders, six remain in custody, and one has passed away. The charges include terrorism and related offenses.
In a separate case involving vehicles set ablaze outside a bakery, the trial concluded at Kot Lakhpat Jail. Qureshi, Rashid, Cheema, Chaudhry, Rasheed, Javed, and Hamza were among the 25 suspects named, with seven declared absconders. The trial for 12 accused has been completed, with five in custody and one deceased. Charges in this case also fall under terrorism and other relevant laws.
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