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Express Tribune
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PTI MNA, ex-MPA among 11 convicted in May 9 rioting case
PTI protesters take to the streets in Lahore on May 9, 2023. SCREENGRAB Listen to article The Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Friday convicted and sentenced 11 individuals to various prison terms and fines in connection with the violence that occurred on May 9, 2023. The charges against them included attacking the Ramna police station, assaulting police personnel, committing arson, and spreading terrorism. Among those convicted were Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Member of National Assembly Abdul Latif and former Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa MPA Wazirzada Kailashi. Following the announcement of the verdict, four of the convicts, Muhammad Akram, Mira Khan, Shahzeb, and Sohail Khan, were arrested from the court premises. Arrest warrants were issued for the remaining seven, namely Abdul Latif, Wazirzada Kailashi, Zaryab Khan, Samuel Robert, Abdul Basit, Shan Ali and Muhammad Yousuf. The verdict, delivered by ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, stated that the accused attacked the Ramna police station, opened fire, pelted stones and attempted to kill police officials. They also set motorcycles on fire. According to the court's decision, the accused were sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined Rs200,000 each for acts of terrorism. Moreover, they were sentenced to five years in prison and fined Rs50,000 each for attempting to kill police personnel; four years in prison and a fine of Rs40,000 each for burning motorcycles; another four years in prison and a Rs40,000 fine each for setting the police station on fire; three months in prison for obstructing police work; and one month in prison for violating Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The May 9 cases refer to violent attacks on state installations that followed the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan on corruption charges in 2023. A number of individuals were arrested in these cases, which have been tried by both military courts and anti-terrorism courts in various cities. ATCs across the country continue to hear related cases. In April, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, directed ATCs to conclude proceedings in May 9 cases within four months. In Lahore, 14 cases remain pending in two ATCs, which are currently hearing them on a daily basis at Kot Lakhpat Central Jail. However, a judge of one of these courts noted that the unavailability of case records was creating significant obstacles to meeting the Supreme Court's deadline. ATC Administrative Judge Manzer Ali Gill wrote to Punjab Prosecutor General Syed Farhad Ali Shah, stating that the police records were not being provided to the deputy prosecutor conducting the trial for various reasons. The judge emphasised that the matter had been brought to the attention of the prosecution office to take necessary steps to ensure that witnesses could be recorded on every hearing date. He cautioned that failing such action, the court would proceed according to the law. It has been observed that the majority of May 9 cases have faced adjournments due to the unavailability of relevant records. On each hearing date, police officials have informed the courts that the case records remain with the Supreme Court. (With input from our Lahore correspondent)
Business Recorder
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
May 9 riots case: 11 PTI workers including MNA convicted by ATC
ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Friday sentenced 11 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers, including a sitting Member of the National Assembly (MNA) and a former Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA), to a combined 27 years and four months in prison in a May 9 riots case. ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra announced the reserved verdict in a case registered at Ramna police station, handing down a 27-year and 4-month sentence along with fines to MNA Abdul Latif, former MPA Wazir Zada Kalashi, and nine other PTI activists. Following the announcement of the verdict, police took four of the accused — Mohammad Akram, Meera Khan, Shahzaib, and Sohail Khan — into custody from the courtroom, while the court issued arrest warrants for the absconding co-accused. The court found the convicts guilty of attacking the police station, firing at police officers, throwing stones, attempting to kill law enforcement personnel, and setting motorcycles on fire to gain their objectives. The court also noted that 24 witnesses testified against the accused, and proper identification parades were conducted before magistrates. The order says that if police stations in the capital are attacked, there will be no place left in the country that is safe to live in. According to the judgment, five years in prison and a Rs50,000 fine for attempted murder of police personnel, four years and Rs40,000 fine for setting motorcycles on fire, another four years and Rs40,000 fine for setting the police station ablaze, three months for obstructing police duties, one month for violating Section 144, two years for committing crimes in a mob, and 10 years with a Rs200,000 fine under terrorism charges. The FIR was registered under sections148 (rioting with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 186 (obstructing public servant), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 324 (attempted murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 427 (mischief causing damage amounting to Rs50), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy property), 440 (Mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt)of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act registered at Ramna police station. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
ATC convicts 11, including PTI's Abdul Latif, for May 9 violence
PTI protesters take to the streets in Lahore on May 9, 2023. SCREENGRAB Listen to article An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad on Friday convicted and sentenced 11 accused to various jail terms and fines in cases related to the violence on May 9, 2023, over charges of attacking the Ramna police station, attacking policemen, setting properties on fire, and spreading terrorism. The convicted men include Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) member of the National Assembly Abdul Latif and former member of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly (MPA) Wazirzada Kailashi. After the verdict, four convicts were arrested from the court premises, while warrants were issued against seven others. The four arrested convicts were Muhammad Akram, Mira Khan, Shahzeb, and Sohail Khan. Warrants were issued against Abdul Latif, Wazirzada Kailashi, Zaryab Khan, Samuel Robert, Abdul Basit, Shan Ali, and Muhammad Yousuf. ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra delivered the verdict, stating that the accused attacked the Ramna police station and opened fire, pelted stones, and tried to kill the policemen. The accused also set fire to motorcycles. The court said that the accused were sentenced to 10 years in prison and a fine of Rs200,000 each for terrorism; five years in prison and a fine of Rs50,000 each for attempting to kill police officials; four years in prison and a fine of Rs40,000 each for burning motorcycles. Another four-year prison term and a fine of Rs40,000 each were awarded for burning the police station; three months in prison for interfering in police work; and one month in prison for violating Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). May 9 cases refer to the violent attacks on state installations in 2023 following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan over corruption charges. Several people were arrested in these cases, which were tried and convicted by military courts as well as ATCs in different cities. Meanwhile, ATCs across the country have been hearing more cases. In April, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, ordered the ATCs to decide on the May 9 cases within four months. Of those, 14 cases of the Lahore district were pending in two ATCs in the Punjab capital, which are being heard in Kot Lakhpat Central Jail on a daily basis. However, an ATC judge said that the unavailability of case records was creating hurdles for the court in meeting the Supreme Court's deadline. ATC Administrative Judge Manzer Ali Gill wrote to Punjab Prosecutor General Syed Farhad Ali Shah, pointing out that police records were not available to the deputy prosecutor conducting the trial because of one reason or another. The judge said that he brought the matter to the notice of the prosecution office for taking necessary actions for recording as many witnesses as possible on each date of hearing. Otherwise, the court would proceed as per law. It has been noted that most of the May 9 cases were adjourned owing to the unavailability of the records of the cases. On each date, police officials informed the courts that the records of the cases were available with the Supreme Court. (WITH INPUT FROM OUR LAHORE CORRESPONDENT)
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
JI accuses Nepra of displaying anti-Karachi bias
KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi chief Monem Zafar Khan has accused the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) of discriminatory practices against Karachiites, criticizing the decision to burden consumers with recovery losses and imposing a higher basic tariff of Rs40 per unit in the metropolis as compared to Rs35 in other cities. In a letter to NEPRA's chairman, he condemned the authority for failing to uphold its constitutional duties, alleging clear bias against Karachi's residents. He argued that while other cities' electric supply companies are barred from passing recovery losses onto consumers, Karachi Electric (KE) has been allowed to do so, placing an unfair financial strain on the city's residents. 'Such biased decisions undermine NEPRA's claims of equality and lay the foundation for injustice,' he stated. Highlighting NEPRA's approval of a multi-year tariff, the JI leader noted that KE is set to collect an additional Rs97 billion from consumers until 2030. He also raised concerns over NEPRA's ongoing hearings regarding KE's Rs76 billion write-off claims, alleging the authority may once again favour the controversial private utility. Monem criticized KE's dismal performance, pointing out that it provides the most expensive electricity in the country while failing to address inefficiencies and alleged misdeeds. He demanded that Nepra take strict notice of KE's poor service, frequent load-shedding and questionable transactions. Additionally, he called for the revocation of KE's operating license and a forensic audit of the company's accounts to ensure transparency. The JI Karachi Chief urged the Nepra to reconsider its policies and prioritize the interests of Karachi's consumers, warning that continued discrimination would deepen public resentment. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Regressive power tariffs
Listen to article In a decision that epitomises regulatory capture and abdication of public interest, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has sanctioned a financial travesty by allowing K-Electric (KE) to embed its operational failures directly into consumer tariffs. This week's approval of a Rs40 per unit base tariff — almost 40% higher than the national average — institutionalises "recovery losses" of up to 6.75%, rewards inefficiency and penalises law-abiding citizens for KE's inability to combat theft and billing failures. The move sets a dangerous precedent for Pakistan's power sector, entrenching corporate welfare at taxpayer expense. It is KE's responsibility to address power theft and non-payment of bills. The government may facilitate it by helping it liaise with law enforcement, but granting it such a huge benefit — effectively a subsidy — gives it an unfair advantage over government-owned distribution companies, which are required to either make 100% recovery or absorb the losses. The regulator cannot be allowed to give preferential treatment to one distribution company, whether private or public. Nepra's rationale of "market realities" is also comical. Every company in the world faces market realities. KE is welcome to stop supplying power to bill defaulters and pursue legal action against defaulters and pilferers, but forcing honest consumers to cover for dishonest ones is flat-out wrong. Rewarding failure demoralises performers. If Nepra will not defend consumers, the government must intervene — not just in court, but by reforming a regulator prioritising corporate viability over public good. The power division has already taken a welcome step by "planning to review" the new terms, but it should also straight-up ask the parliamentary standing committee on energy to force the Nepra chief to stand in parliament and defend the sweetheart deal, and explain to Karachi why the regulator is actively trying to punish citizens.
