PTI leaders, workers sentenced in May 9 police station attack case

• ATC finds the accused guilty of attacking Ramna police station.
• During trial, 24 witnesses recorded their testimonies, says court.
• Culprits handed five years imprisonment for attempted murder.

ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad on Friday announced its verdict in the May 9 attack case on Ramna police station, sentencing 11 individuals, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Abdul Latif and former MPA Wazirzada Kailashi, to a total of 15 years and four months in prison, along with fines.

ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra delivered the judgment today. Following the verdict, police took four of the accused present in the court — Muhammad Akram, Meeran Khan, Shahzeb, and Sohail Khan — into custody.

Meanwhile, the court has issued warrants for the arrest of the absconding suspects.

Following the arrest of the ousted prime minister Imran Khan by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), dozens of PTI workers and leaders carried out violent protests across the country. 

At least 70 PTI leaders were accused of planning the May 9, 2023, violent events and inciting the workers and supporters to attack military and government installations.

The ATC found the accused guilty of attacking Ramna police station, engaging in firing, pelting stones, and attempting to beating police personnel. The judgment stated that the culprits set motorcycles on fire to achieve their objectives.

During the trial, 24 witnesses recorded their testimonies, while identification parade of the accused were conducted before magistrates.

Judge Sipra pointed towards the gravity of such attacks, stating that if police stations in Islamabad are attacked, "no place in the country will remain habitable".

The sentences handed down to the culprits by the court include five years imprisonment and a fine of Rs50,000 for attempted murder of police officials. Four years imprisonment and a fine of Rs40,000 for setting motorcycles on fire. Four years imprisonment and a fine of Rs40,000 for setting the police station on fire.

Three months imprisonment for interfering in police duties. One month imprisonment for violating Section 144. Two years imprisonment for committing a crime as part of an unlawful assembly. Ten years imprisonment and a fine of Rs200,000 under terrorism charges. The punishment was announced by Judge Sipra.