May 9 riots: Gujranwala ATC sentences 51 accused to 5-year in prison

May 9 riots: Gujranwala ATC sentences 51 accused to 5-year in prison

Gujranwala (Web Desk): An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Gujranwala on Saturday sentenced 51 convicts to five-year imprisonment in a case pertaining to May 9 riots and fined each Rs 10,000.
Among the accused is Kaleemullah Khan, a recently elected member of the provincial assembly (MPA) from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

According to details, the ATC judge Natasha Naseem Supra conducted the hearing of the case related to vandalism and arson at Gujranwala Cantt in which 23 Pakistan PTI leaders, including the party founder Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, as well as over 400 suspects had been nominated.

The Rahwali Cantt police had registered a case against suspects involved in an attack on the cantonment in Gujranwala in which dozens of people were injured and one person was killed.

Announcing a short verdict, the court gave a five-year jail-term each to the accused political workers who were arrested from the vandalism site while some of them were arrested after geo-fencing, as per the police charge sheet.

The ATC will issue a detailed verdict later.

Moreover, Gujranwala police also questioned the incarcerated PTI founder and Qureshi at Adiala Jail in the Gujranwala Cantt vandalism and arson case. However, the former premier did not cooperate with the investigators, according to the police, and asked his lawyers to submit reply.

It is pertinent to mention that on May 9, 2023 alleged workers and supporters of PTI vandalized and set fire to state and army properties and memorials in the wake of the party chief's arrest by paramilitary troops from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Later, dozens of PTI leaders and workers were arrested in connection with May 9 violence, while several leaders parted ways with the party.