A long‑running legal battle over the May 9 GOR Gate attack reached a decisive moment Friday as the Anti‑Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore prepared to announce its verdict in the high‑profile case. The court reserved its judgment Thursday and scheduled the verdict for 2:00pm in open court.
The trial, held inside Kot Lakhpat Jail under strict security, saw all 33 accused record their final statements during the last hearings, including prominent Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) figures such as Dr Yasmin Rashid, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Umar Sarfaraz Cheema, Ejaz Chaudhry and Mian Mahmood‑ur‑Rasheed. A total of 56 prosecution witnesses testified throughout the proceedings to support charges of attacking the GOR‑1 gate near Club Chowk on May 9, 2023.
According to the case’s First Information Report (FIR), the accused are alleged to have damaged security cameras, smashed police equipment, broken gate glass panels, vandalized government property and assaulted police officers on duty. The prosecution’s challan identified 25 individuals formally, while four others were declared proclaimed offenders during the trial.
In related legal developments, multiple accused in various May 9 cases have faced prolonged proceedings and other courts have issued rulings on bail or acquittals. For instance, in a separate case, a proclaimed offender tag was declared against Sohail Afridi and five others as the prosecution pursued further charges in May 9 unrest cases.
Political reactions have been mixed, with supporters urging fairness and critics calling for strict enforcement of the law. As anticipation grows ahead of Friday’s verdict, lawyers and civil society observers expect a major impact on Pakistan’s political discourse, given the prominence of several accused.
The May 9 GOR Gate attack case verdict is a landmark moment in ongoing attempts to address the violent unrest that shook parts of the country two years ago.
