The verdict, announced by ATC Judge Arshad Javed, acquitted Qureshi along with 20 other accused.

However, it convicted 18 others, including Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, Omar Sarfaraz Cheema, and Ejaz Chaudhry, handing them cumulative sentences amounting to 48 years under various charges.

The court also imposed fines of Rs150,000 on each convict, warning that failure to pay would result in additional imprisonment. It ruled that all sentences would run concurrently.

In addition, the court issued perpetual arrest warrants for Sanam Javed, Muhammad Siddique, Tayyab Ali, Syed Faisal Akhtar, and Zarif Khan.

Arrest orders were also issued for Khadija Shah and 14 others who failed to appear for sentencing.

The judgment noted that following the arrest of PTI’s founder, party activists were incited through social media to stage violent protests.