The Special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Gujranwala on Saturday sentenced 51 accused in the case of attack on Rahwali Cantt Check Post on May 9 last year.
Judge Natasha Naseem of the special court has sentenced these accused to five years imprisonment.
The trial of the accused was conducted in Central Jail Gujranwala and the verdict was pronounced in the court room of the jail itself.
The activists of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are accused of entering the cantt and vandalizing and burning houses against the arrest of founder chairman Imran Khan on May 9 last year.
During this time, the same activists have also been charged with the murder of Rashid Maqbool, who lost his life. The case was registered after the attack on Rahwali Cantt check post on May 9.
Security was tightened around the jail on the occasion of the verdict on Saturday. A heavy police force was present at the gate and its surroundings.
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In today’s hearing, 51 accused who are already arrested have been sentenced.
In the case registered on May 10, 2023 at the Cantt police station, the provisions of illegal arms, murder and terrorism were added. SHO Mudassar Rafiq Butt was made the plaintiff in the suit.
In the case, 51 named and 400 unknown accused including PTI’s local leader Kaleemullah Khan, Jamal Nasir Cheema, Rizwan Zafar Cheema, Rizwan Mustafa Sayan, former MPA Shabbir Mehr have been made.
It was alleged in the case that the accused vandalized government vehicles, injured eight officers and personnel including SSP Investigation, DSP and SHO.
The central leadership of PTI was also named accused in this case.
The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed into the incident completed the investigation and submitted its report to the court along with the challan. After which the sentence has been pronounced on completion of the hearing.
Speaking to Independent Urdu, local lawyer Lala Shakeel said that cases were registered against hundreds of PTI workers involved in the May 9 incident as named and unknown persons and the hearing was also conducted in jail.
According to him: ‘How the police proved the allegations will be evaluated in the appeals. Because there is a right of appeal against the decision of the ATC against the accused.
