In a major legal development, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has acquitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi in two high-profile cases linked to the May 9 riots, while awarding lengthy prison sentences to several other party leaders and workers.

ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill, conducting proceedings at a makeshift court inside Kot Lakhpat Jail, announced the long-awaited verdict on Monday. The decision came after the court reserved its judgment last week, promising to deliver it on August 11.

In the Jinnah House vehicle torching case, the court sentenced Dr Yasmin Rashid, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, former Punjab governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, Ayesha Ali Bhutta, and several others to 10 years in prison each. Hafiz Muhammad Arshad received the same sentence, while PTI leaders Aliya Hamza and Sanam Javed were handed five-year jail terms.

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Qureshi, along with Abrar, Amjad, Faisal, Jamil, Saadia, and Tasneem, was acquitted in this case due to lack of evidence.

In the Shadman Police Station torching case, the court acquitted 12 out of 25 accused, including Qureshi, Sohail Khan, Muhammad Owais, Rafiuddin, and Farid Khan. Several suspects were earlier declared absconders, and one accused died during the trial.

Notably, no accused who had been released on bail — including Aliya Hamza and Sanam Javed — was present in court for the verdict announcement.

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The May 9 riots verdict stems from violent protests that erupted after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan from the Islamabad High Court premises in a graft case. Thousands of PTI supporters stormed military and public installations, including the Corps Commander House in Lahore and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

The unrest left several dead, caused massive property damage, and resulted in hundreds of arrests. While some PTI leaders secured bail, many remain behind bars, and Imran Khan himself has been incarcerated since August 2023, facing multiple cases ranging from corruption to terrorism.