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 sources on Wednesday.
Police sources indicated that Qureshi was declared guilty based on contradictory statements and evidence collected against him.
They noted that Qureshi could not provide satisfactory answers regarding the events of May 9 and was allegedly involved in acts of vandalism.
The JIT interrogated Qureshi at Adiala Jail, recording his statement three times. Following the investigation, the police have filed a charge sheet in court, declaring Qureshi guilty in all seven cases.
Previously, Qureshi sought bail in the May 9 cases, asserting that the charges were politically motivated and maintaining his innocence.
He claimed that he was in Karachi for his wife’s medical treatment on May 9. He pleaded for bail, arguing that he was falsely implicated in the cases.
Qureshi faced eight cases in total, including those related to attacks on Jinnah House, Askari Tower, and the Shadman police station.
Violent clashes erupted across Pakistan after former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested on May 9, 2023. Protests took place in both remote and major cities, with PTI workers reacting strongly to their chairman’s arrest.
The provinces of Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad called in armed forces to maintain law and order.
During the protests, PTI workers attacked army installations, including the Corps Commander’s house in Lahore. Imran Khan was named the main accused in all the May 9 riot cases.
