ATC holds Imran responsible for May 9 mayhem in written verdict

LAHORE:The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Lahore on Saturday issued written verdict of denying bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in eight cases related to May 9 riots.

The ATC Lahore held former premier responsible for masterminding May 9 riots.

Justice Manzar Ali Gill of the ATC Lahore issued six-page long written verdict.

It was said in the verdict that statement of those police officers who were masquerading as the PTI workers during meetings held in Zaman Park to conspire May 9 vandalism were recorded, adding that audio evidences of Khan were also part of the record where he could be heard inciting people to resort to violence in case of his arrest.

Highlighting the PTI workers’ participation in May 9 vandalism, the court order said workers alongside party leadership couldn’t stifle the PTI founder’s worst impulses by following all instructions given by Khan to seed chaos and cause disruption on May 9 by attacking military installations, adding that inciting people to violence wasn’t an ordinary matter.

According to the prosecution, decision to storm military installations was taken in Zaman Park on May 7 and 9.

The court order also termed the PTI founder’s counsel argument which said that Khan was under arrest at the time of May 9 vandalism unsatisfactory saying that he had hatched the conspiracy prior to his arrest.

Referring to bail plea of the PTI Senator Ejaz Chaudhry filed in the Lahore High Court’s (LHC), it said the PTI founder’s role was also discussed during the LHC hearing, adding that he wasn’t an ordinary man as his followers acted upon his orders in letter and spirit without even evaluating the pros and cons.

The court order also said that several incidents of attacking policemen, storming the government buildings and targeting military installations took place on May 9, hence bail of the PTI founder was rejected.