What happened
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Saturday acquitted former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and sentenced four other senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to 10 years’ imprisonment each in a case arising from the 9 May 2023 riots.
ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul announced the reserved verdict inside Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore, where the accused are being held, according to Geo News. The four leaders sentenced were Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed and former senator Ejaz Chaudhry.
The case concerned the alleged burning of police vehicles in the Mughalpura area of Lahore during the 2023 unrest and had been filed against 22 accused, including Qureshi, Rashid and Chaudhry. The court reserved its verdict after defence lawyers completed their final arguments; prosecutors had recorded the statements of 37 witnesses before the case moved to that stage.
Why it matters
The ruling is the latest in a series of May 9 cases in which senior PTI figures have been convicted. Geo News noted that Rashid, Cheema and Chaudhry have already been found guilty in other cases stemming from the same unrest, and said the verdict adds to the legal pressure on the party founded by former prime minister Imran Khan.
The May 9 riots erupted after Khan’s arrest and saw supporters attack civil and military installations, including the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and the Corps Commander House in Lahore. Hundreds of PTI leaders and workers were subsequently arrested, and many remain in prison.
What is still uncertain
The verdict was announced in a single case and does not determine the outcome of the other May 9 prosecutions against the same leaders. Qureshi, who has been held in other cases since 2023, was cleared in this case; the convicted leaders have indicated they will use available legal avenues to challenge the decision.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a summary of published reporting, not independent reporting. Details are as carried by the cited sources, which were reviewed on 2026-06-20.
- Geo News — "ATC convicts Yasmin Rashid, others, acquits Shah Mahmood in May 9 case"20 June 2026 · The verdict, the judge and jail location, the four leaders sentenced, the 22 accused, the 37 witnesses and the background to the May 9 riots.
- Samaa TV — "PTI leaders sentenced to 10 years in Mughalpura arson case"20 June 2026 · Confirmation that the four named PTI leaders received 10-year terms and that Qureshi was acquitted, and that the verdict had been reserved.
