On August 12, 2025, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore acquitted Shah Mahmood Qureshi, a senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, in two cases related to the May 9, 2023, riots and ordered his release.
ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill issued a mandamus directing the superintendent of Kot Lakhpat Jail to release Qureshi unless authorities required him in other cases. The court announced the verdict on August 11 after concluding hearings the previous week.
The court has sentenced PTI leaders Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and others to 10 years in prison for their involvement in the May 9 riots, which included attacks on Jinnah House and the Shadman Police Station. Additionally, Aliya Hamza and Sanam Javed received five-year sentences related to the Shadman case. The court also imposed a fine of Rs600,000 on the convicted leaders, with additional jail time for those who fail to pay.
Read: Lahore ATC Acquits Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Sentences PTI Leaders in May 9 Riots Cases
Riots broke out following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan in a corruption case. Thousands of his supporters targeted military and public sites, including the Corps Commander’s House in Lahore and the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. The unrest resulted in widespread arrests, with many PTI members still in detention. Meanwhile, Khan has been facing multiple charges since his ousting in 2023, according to Dawn.
The PTI condemned the convictions as politically motivated and pledged to appeal to higher courts. Spokesperson Waqas Akram referred to the verdicts as a “travesty of justice,” claiming there were closed-door trials and fabricated evidence. While the acquittal of Qureshi provides some relief, ongoing legal challenges, including Ejaz Chaudhry’s bail petitions, indicate that PTI will continue to face tensions
