An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi dismissed acquittal pleas filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, in the GHQ attack case linked to the violent protests of May 9, 2023.
Other PTI leaders whose pleas were rejected include Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Shibli Faraz, Shahryar Afridi, Kanwal Shauzab, Umar Tanvir Butt, and Fawad Chaudhry. Special Public Prosecutor Zaheer Shah opposed the acquittal petitions, while PTI leaders were represented by lawyers Faisal Chaudhry and Faisal Malik, along with their legal team.
The ATC ruled that the acquittal petitions were rendered infructuous following the indictment of the accused. Additionally, the court denied requests by four defendants to travel abroad, citing incomplete documentation.
A day earlier, ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah indicted 14 individuals, including PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, in connection with the GHQ attack case.
To date, a total of 113 suspects have been indicted in the case, with the court summoning six more accused for proceedings on Saturday.
The GHQ attack case stems from the violent protests that erupted nationwide after Imran Khan’s arrest in a corruption case. The riots involved attacks on military installations, including the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and the Lahore corps commander’s residence. Several PTI leaders and workers are facing trials under the Army Act for their alleged involvement in the attacks and damage to military properties.
