An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday distributed copies of the charge-sheet to 267 individuals, including several prominent leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in connection with the Jinnah House attack case. The court has summoned all accused for formal indictment next week.
The hearing was conducted by Judge Manzer Ali Gill within the premises of Kot Lakhpat jail. Among those produced in custody were senior PTI leaders and former ministers Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mehmoodur Rashid, ex-governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and Senator Ejaz Chaudhry. The court was informed that former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had been shifted to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology due to a cardiac issue before the proceedings began.
Other PTI figures out on bail, including former MNAs Aliya Hamza Malik and Rubina Jamil, social media activists Sanam Javed and Tayyaba Raja, and fashion designer Khadija Shah, were also present during the hearing inside the jail facility.
Legal representation for the accused was provided by senior lawyers Burhan Moazam Malik and Rana Mudassir Umar.
After distributing the charge-sheets, the court announced that formal indictments will take place on May 24. The hearing was subsequently adjourned.
The case stems from an FIR registered by the Sarwar Road police, accusing PTI leaders and supporters of attacking and damaging Jinnah House — the official residence of the Lahore corps commander — during the May 9 protests following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan in a corruption case by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The FIR includes charges under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, along with sections related to waging or attempting to wage war against Pakistan, inciting mutiny, and rioting.
In a related development, another ATC extended the pre-arrest bail of Aliya Hamza Malik until May 26 in multiple cases. The same court also extended the bail of Imran Khan’s sisters, Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan, in separate cases concerning attacks on law enforcement, granting them exemption from appearance due to their scheduled court visit in Rawalpindi.
