The Lahore High Court delivered a split verdict on appeals seeking suspension of sentences in the May 9 riot cases on Tuesday, suspending the sentence of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Afzal Azeem Pahat while rejecting similar pleas of Ejaz Chaudhry and Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Shahbaz Rizvi heard the appeals against convictions awarded by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore, which had sentenced the accused to 10 years imprisonment in cases related to the May 9 unrest.

The court suspended Pahat’s sentence in a case of rioting and arson at Sherpao Bridge and ordered his release.

The bench dismissed four applications filed by Chaudhry and one by Rasheed seeking suspension of their sentences in similar cases.

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During proceedings, defence counsel Barrister Mian Ali Ashfaq argued that the ATC verdicts were contrary to facts and that the convicts had already spent over two and a half years in jail, requesting suspension of sentences until final decisions in the main appeals.

The special prosecutor opposed the pleas, contending that the May 9 incidents were part of a premeditated conspiracy aimed at destabilising the country.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court reserved its judgment and later announced the verdict.