May 9 cases: Lahore ATC hands 10-year sentence to Ejaz Chaudhary, Omer Faraza Cheema

LAHORE: An Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore has sentenced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders Ejaz Chaudhry and Sarfraz Cheema to 10 years in prison each in the case related to the May 9 attack.

ATC also sentenced Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, Sarfraz Cheema and Mian Mahmoodur Rashid to 10 years in prison each in the case related to the May 9 attack on the GOR Gate at Club Chowk.

ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill announced the verdict at Kot Lakhpat Jail. The court had reserved its decision on December 18.

The court also ordered the arrest and production of four accused who were declared absconders during the trial. The proclaimed offenders include Farooq Anjum, Habib Ahmed, Arsalan and Akbar Khan.

A total of 25 accused were nominated in the case, while statements of 56 prosecution witnesses were recorded during the trial.

Earlier in the day, a special court at Adiala Jail also announced its verdict in the Toshakhana-II case, sentencing PTI leader Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to a total of 17 years’ imprisonment each, along with a fine of Rs10 million per person.

The verdict was pronounced by Shahrukh Arjumand, Special Jude Central, who awarded multiple sentences under different legal provisions. Under Pakistan Penal Code Section 409, both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment each. Combined with other convictions in the case, their total sentence amounts to 17 years each.

FIA Prosecutor Umair Majeed and Deputy Director FIA Afzal Khan were present in court during the announcement of the judgment. Imran Khan was represented by his counsel Barrister Salman Safdar, while Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi appeared along with his prosecution team.