ATC detailed verdict declares May 9 protest terrorism

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday declared the violent protest of PTI MNAs and workers terrorism in its detailed verdict in the May 9 case.

Judge Tahir Abbas Supra issued a detailed verdict of 42 pages, in which it was said that 11 accused were sentenced to a total of 27 years and three months in prison under various sections, and 10 years in prison under 7-ATA if the act of terrorism is proven. All the sentences are cumulative, so the criminals will be imprisoned for 10 years.

Those sentenced include Zaryab Khan from Nowshera, Muhammad Akram and Mira Khan from Parachinar, Abdul Latif from Upper Dir, Chitral, Samuel Robert from Mardan, Wazirzada from Kailash Valley, Abdul Basit from Haripur, Shan Ali from Sargodha, Shazeb from Bagh, Muhammad Yousuf from Afghanistan residing in Islamabad, and Sohail Khan from Mansehra. The verdict also said that the accused are members of a political party.

They were protesting against the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan. The accused attacked a police station, opened fire on police, burned motorcycles, and damaged public property. It is clear that the accused wanted to achieve their goal by destabilizing the government. Protest is a constitutional right, but the law does not allow attacks on law-enforcement agencies under the guise of political activity. Attacking and injuring police, burning motorcycles, and committing violent acts at a public place shows that the accused were spreading terror.

This incident took place in Islamabad which is considered the safest city where embassies are also located. Attacking a police station with weapons is terrorism in the light of the supreme court’s decision. The accused wanted to achieve their goal by spreading terror among law-enforcement agencies and the public. The prosecution was successful in proving its case. All the accused committed this crime together, so all of them are responsible for it.

In the cases registered on November 26, the court of Judicial Magistrate Shahzad Ahmed has appointed a state counsel for PTI workers due to the unavailability of lawyers and dismissed an application for acquittal of co-accused Usman Ali.

Despite the court summons during the hearing on Saturday, no lawyer from the PTI appeared in the cases, on which the court appointed a state counsel in both the cases. The court appointed advocate Kifayatullah as state counsel in the protest case no 976 and he completed the cross-examination of six prosecution witnesses. The investigation officer and the assistant commissioner will be cross-examined at the next hearing. Special Public Prosecutor Usman Rana said the correct identification of accused Usman Ali has been done.