RAWALPINDI: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has sentenced 47 proclaimed offenders to 10 years in prison each in the May 9 GHQ attack case.
ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah announced the verdict after completing the separate trials of the accused. The court also ordered the confiscation of their properties.
The court found the accused involved in the conspiracy behind the May 9 violence. The case covers attacks on the GHQ Gate, Hamza Camp and Army Museum.
The accused also faced charges of arson, vandalism and damage to government buildings and other important sites.
The court said the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) identified the accused as key suspects in the planning of the May 9 incidents.
During the separate trial of the 47 proclaimed offenders, the prosecution presented 19 witnesses.
The wider case has so far recorded statements from 44 prosecution witnesses.
The accused faced separate trials after the court declared them proclaimed offenders for failing to appear before it.
The case initially involved 118 accused. The court declared 18 of them proclaimed offenders during the proceedings.
According to the prosecution, 29 accused did not appear before any court after authorities registered the case.
The accused named in the case include Omar Ayub, Zartaj Gul, Sheikh Rashid Shafique, Murad Saeed, Zulfi Bukhari and Shahbaz Gill.
The list also includes Ali Amin Gandapur, Shandana Gulzar, Hamad Azhar, Azam Swati, Ahmed Chattha, Rai Hassan Nawaz, Rai Murtaza and Shaukat Ali Bhatti.
Other accused include Usman Saeed Basra, Ijaz Khan Jazi, Shibli Faraz and Kanwal Shauzab, among others.
The May 9 unrest began across Pakistan after the arrest of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan in May 2023.
Protesters attacked several military and government installations during the violence, including the GHQ complex in Rawalpindi.
The latest verdict adds to the ongoing legal proceedings against those accused in connection with the May 9 incidents.
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