An anti -terrorism court judge (ATC) has directly blamed PTI’s main leadership for the disturbances of May 9, 2023, declaring that "Each and every one of the PTI leaders consider their duty to mobilize PTI workers only to show their most sincere attachment to its president, Imran Khan."
Judge Manzar Ali Gill ruled that the leadership of the PTI repeatedly prompted his workers and supporters against state institutions by portraying Imran Khan as the "Nijat Dahinda" (Salvador) of all his problems, ranging from injustice and insecurity to social complaints.
"Consequently, your arrest [on May 9, 2023] led to attacks on military facilities and official buildings," Gill wrote in his trial detailed in a case against PTI leaders, which included positions of "Attack and flame a vehicle from the Judge of the Supreme Court" During the riots after Khan’s arrest. On September 9, Gill sentenced 17 convicts, including former Punjab governor, Omar Sarfraz Chema, Ejaz Chaudhry, Dr. Yasmeen Rashid and Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, ten years in prison each. However, he acquitted former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and several other PTI workers. The sentence pointed out that, after reviewing the prosecution’s evidence, including social media accounts, press clippings and television images, "The court is of the opinion that each and every one of the leaders of the PTI did everything possible to give hope, trust and support, accusing workers and the general public to get out of their homes and participate in the protest for the arrest of their leader, Imran Khan."
Judge Gill also commented that PTI leaders, except Qureshi, which Alibi declared, "I tried to achieve the objectives established by Imran Khan during the meetings held on May 7 and 9, 2023, in Zaman Park, as deposed by two witnesses of the Prosecutor’s Office."
Added: "There is no doubt that the workers and supporters of the PTI take the advice and mandate of their leader Imran Khan as sacred."
For charges of criminal conspiracy, the judge cited the testimony of two witnesses of the Secret Police, Hassam Afzal and Muhammad Khalid. He noted that they remained consistent during the long interrogation. The defense lawyers tried to refute their presence in Zaman Park, but did not challenge the fact that the meetings were really held there. Witnesses testified that they entered Khan’s residence with simple clothes, mixing with PTI workers. Judge Gill pointed out: "As trained secret police officers, they knew how to mix in meetings. It is a universal truth that each country has the secret police that furtively work. Almost at each political or social meeting, these officials are designated to monitor feelings and strategies."
He dismissed the defense plea that social media accounts trusted the Prosecutor’s Office were false.
"None of the defendants filed a complaint with Pemra [Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority] Affirm that his accounts were false. In the absence of such complaint, it cannot be assumed that their accounts were administered by others," The trial read. The properties lost the ATC also stressed that, according to the trials announced in Punjab, more than 130 legislators and workers of PTI have had their entire properties. Previously, the ATC Faisalab had ordered the loss of property of 90 convicts, while the Sargodha court, in two cases, ordered the loss of 30 properties of the convicts under section 7 (2) of the Anti -Terrorism Law, 1997.
