Delivered by Judge Manzar Ali Gul, the judgment focused on the arson incident near Rahat Bakery. The court stated that testimonies from 64 witnesses were cross-examined in detail, with PTI lawyers grilling witnesses on allegations of conspiracy. Despite lengthy questioning, the witnesses stood firm on their statements.
According to the verdict, it is common worldwide for police officers to go undercover and infiltrate groups to collect intelligence. In this case, two undercover officers disguised themselves as PTI workers to monitor future strategies of the leadership. The court emphasized that as trained operatives, they were not bound to pass information immediately.
The court dismissed objections about them carrying mobile phones, reasoning that spies do not keep such devices in sensitive meetings as it could expose them if discovered. The judge called the two officers “expert star witnesses”.
The verdict also declared it “crystal clear” that violent protests erupted across Punjab after PTI founder Imran Khan’s arrest. However, the case of Shah Mehmood Qureshi was treated differently from that of Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed and others.
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The court accepted Qureshi’s travel records, including tickets, proving he was not in Lahore on May 9, leading to his acquittal. In contrast, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfaraz Cheema, Ejaz Chaudhry, Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, and Ayesha Bhatta were each handed 10-year jail sentences.
This verdict is a landmark moment in the aftermath of May 9. By acquitting Shah Mehmood Qureshi but sentencing other senior leaders to 10 years, the court has sent a mixed but powerful message. The emphasis on undercover witnesses shows how intelligence operations are shaping politically sensitive cases.
For PTI, this means a major blow to its second-tier leadership, as several senior figures will now face long prison terms. The acquittal of Qureshi, however, keeps speculation alive about possible political maneuvering. The decision also underlines how the state is tightening accountability over violent protests linked to Imran Khan’s arrest, setting the stage for more political turbulence ahead.
