The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has announced its verdict in the high-profile May 9 GHQ attack case, sentencing 47 proclaimed offenders to 10 years of imprisonment each. The court also imposed a fine of PKR 500,000 on each convict.
The verdict was delivered by Judge Amjad Ali Shah after reviewing the evidence presented during the trial. In addition to prison sentences and fines, the court ordered the seizure of properties belonging to the convicted individuals.
According to the court’s findings, the convicted offenders were involved in planning and participating in the violent incidents that occurred on May 9. The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) had earlier identified them as key figures responsible for organizing and supporting the protests that led to attacks on important military installations.
The verdict states that the convicts took part in attacks on the GHQ gates, Hamza Camp, and the Army Museum during the unrest. Authorities reported that the incidents involved acts of arson, vandalism, assault on police personnel, and damage to public property.
Among the individuals named in the case are several prominent political figures and activists, including Umar Ayub, Zartaj Gul, Murad Saeed, Shibli Faraz, Hammad Azhar, Kanwal Shauzab, Rashid Shafiq, Shahbaz Gill, Zulfi Bukhari, Muhammad Ahmed Chahtha, Rai Hassan Nawaz, Rai Muhammad Murtaza, Shaukat Ali Bhatti, Usman Saeed Basra, and Ijaz Khan Jazi.
The court highlighted that the accused had been declared proclaimed offenders due to their failure to appear before the court during earlier proceedings. As a result, the trial continued in their absence.
Earlier, in December 2024, a total of 118 individuals were formally charged in connection with the May 9 incidents. These included senior political leaders such as PTI founder and former Interior Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
Authorities stated that the verdict is an important step in holding those responsible for the May 9 violence accountable. Officials also emphasized that legal proceedings will continue against other individuals involved in the case.
The May 9 incidents remain one of the most significant political and legal developments in Pakistan in recent years, and the court’s decision marks a major milestone in the ongoing legal process.
