JIT finds Qureshi guilty in seven cases of May 9 riots

LAHORE: A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has found Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi guilty in seven cases, including charges of terrorism and involvement in the May 9 riots.

According to the police, Qureshi was found guilty due to conflicting statements and evidence against him. The PTI leader failed to provide satisfactory answers regarding the events of May 9 and was implicated in vandalism incidents, supported by digital evidence.

The JIT interrogated Qureshi at Adiala Jail, recording his statement three times. The police have now submitted a charge sheet in court, declaring Qureshi guilty in all seven cases.

Previously, Shah Mahmood Qureshi had sought bail in the May 9 cases, arguing that the charges against him were politically motivated and that he was innocent. The plea stated that on May 9, Qureshi was in Karachi for his wife’s medical treatment and urged the court to grant him bail, asserting his false implication in the cases.

Eight cases, including those related to attacks on Jinnah House, Askari Tower, and Shadman police station, have been filed against Qureshi. Violent clashes erupted across Pakistan after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 9, 2023.

Protests occurred in both remote and major cities, with party workers angered by their chairman’s arrest. To maintain law and order, armed forces were deployed in Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad.

During the protests, PTI workers attacked several army installations, including the Corps Commander’s house in Lahore. It is notable that the PTI founder is named as the main accused in all the May 9 riots cases.