LAHORE: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Thursday sentenced Gullu Butt — the infamous baton-wielding man caught vandalising property during violence in Model Town June 17 — to 11 years in prison.
The court also enforced a fine of Rs100,000 on Butt.
Butt's counsel said they will appeal the decision in the Lahore High Court (LHC), adding that his client did not commit an offence calling for such severe punishment.
Earlier on Monday, Butt had apologised to the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri over his actions and later retracted his statements during a hearing in the court, claiming that he had never smashed any vehicles and that the police was lying about his involvement.
Butt was indicted by an ATC on Sept 19 for his violent exhibition outside the Minhajul Quran Secretariat.
The car-smashing vandal was released from Camp Jail on Sept 26 after the Lahore High Court declared his detention illegal.
Speaking to reporters, Butt had claimed his innocence and accused the police of spreading false propaganda campaign against him. He had also claimed that the baton presented in court did not belong to him.
Butt's stance over the issue has not been consistent. In an exclusive interview with DawnNews, Butt had narrated his version of events, saying he was ashamed of his past and regretted his actions.
“I am apologising to the entire nation. I am neither a criminal nor a criminal’s offspring. I am willing to fall in Allama Qadri’s feet to ask for his forgiveness,” he had said. “Whatever I have done is in front of the media … I am ashamed of that, and ask the entire nation to forgive me.”
Explore: Gullu Butt apologises for actions, seeks forgiveness
