The Joint Investigation Team (JIT), tasked with probing the May 9 vandalism, has held the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership accountable for the widespread unrest that erupted across the country after former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s arrest from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on May 9, 2023.
Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Judge Arshad Javed presided over the hearing of multiple cases linked to the May 9 riots. According to the JIT report, PTI leaders incited the public to commit acts of vandalism. The report specifically named Azam Swati, Asad Umar, and Hafiz Farhat Abbas as responsible for the incidents that followed Imran Khan’s arrest by paramilitary forces.
During the proceedings, the court criticized the defense lawyers for being unprepared for arguments, noting, “You were requesting an investigation before. Now that the investigation is complete, you are still not presenting your arguments.” Expressing dissatisfaction, the judge asked the PTI legal team to propose a new date.
The court subsequently adjourned the hearing until January 14.
