An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore charged on Monday 21 people on Monday, including the leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-E-insaf (PTI), Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Dr. Yasmin Rashid, in connection with May 9, 2023, riots.
The accusations concern the violent protests which occurred after the arrest of the former Prime Minister Imran Khan, including the allegedly the inverse of a container in Kalma Chowk.
The indictment was announced by Lahore ATC judge Arshad Javed during a hearing at Kot Lakhpat prison, where Qureshi denied the accusations. The court postponed the hearing until February 17 and summoned witnesses to prosecution.
The May 9 riots broke out nationally after Khan’s arrest as part of the 190 million pound Sterling regulation case.
PTI workers and managers were arrested for their involvement in demonstrations, which targeted civil and military facilities, including Jinnah’s house and the general seat (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The soldiers condemned events as “Black Day” and decided to try the demonstrators under the Army Act.
Following the troubles, many members of the PTI were arrested and tried before the military courts. In December, a military court sentenced 25 people, including the nephew of Imran Khan, Hassan Khan Niazi, then sentenced 60 others.
In January, 19 convicts had forgiven their convictions following successful mercy calls, although PTI expressed its dissatisfaction on the limited number of pardons.
The military trials had initially been interrupted following a decision of the Supreme Court, but resumed following the instructions of the court to finalize the matters pending and announce judgments for the persons involved in violent incidents.
The president of the PTI, the lawyer Gohar Ali Khan, firmly opposed the trials of civilians in the military courts, citing constitutional concerns.