LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday re-indicted PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Yasmin Rashid, and others in cases related to the May 9 riots. The hearing was conducted by ATC Admin Judge Manzar Ali Gul, focusing on three cases of vandalism near Jinnah House.
The prosecution had requested amendments to the earlier indictment of the PTI leaders, leading to their re-indictment. Other party members, including Sanam Javed and Khadija Shah, were also charged. The accused refused to accept the charges, prompting the court to summon witnesses for the next hearing scheduled on March 6.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, currently imprisoned in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, now faces additional charges in eight new cases linked to the May 9 violence. These charges are in addition to previous allegations connected to nationwide protests following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the £190 million settlement case.
Earlier, Qureshi had been sentenced to 10 years in prison in the cipher case under the Official Secrets Act. However, this conviction was overturned by the Islamabad High Court in June.
The May 9 unrest led to the arrests of numerous PTI leaders and workers for their alleged involvement in violent clashes and attacks on military installations. Authorities continue to pursue legal action against those accused of orchestrating and participating in the riots.
