An anti-terrorism court (ATC) has sentenced several senior PTI leaders to long prison terms in connection with the May 9 violence. Former governor Umar Sarfraz Cheema, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry, and Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed each received 10 years in prison, while PTI’s Alia Hamza and activist Sanam Javed were given five years each.
The cases involve the attack on Shadman police station and the arson of police vehicles near Jinnah House. Proceedings were conducted at Kot Lakhpat Jail, where the court heard closing arguments before reserving and delivering the verdict.
Defence lawyers argued the charges were politically motivated and lacked credible evidence. Prosecutors contended there was strong proof that the accused incited crowds, destroyed state property, and set police vans on fire.
PTI counsel Rana Mudassar Umar said 25 people were named in the Rahat Bakery case, with seven absconding. In the Shadman arson case, 12 were tried, five remain in custody, and one has died.