RAWALPINDI: In a significant development, Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former premier currently detained in Adiala Jail on multiple charges, faces additional legal troubles as he has been arrested in connection with the GHQ attack case stemming from the violent protests on May 9, 2023.
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi summoned Khan for his alleged involvement in the GHQ attack, as well as two other cases related to arson at a metro station and incitement of violence on the same day.
Despite Khan’s current incarceration in Adiala Jail, he attended the court proceedings via video link due to security concerns. During the hearing, officials from RA Bazar police station sought physical remand, but the ATC judge, Malik Aijaz Asif, rejected the request, directing the police to interrogate Khan within the jail premises.
The court set the next hearing for January 23, 2024, and issued notices to both the prosecution and defense lawyers to present their arguments and evidence.
In response to the incidents of May 9, the federal government formed a cabinet committee to investigate the events. The committee, headed by the caretaker federal law and justice minister, will examine the circumstances leading up to the events, identify those responsible, and evaluate the short-term and long-term implications.
Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9, 2023, during a corruption case hearing at the Islamabad High Court, triggered widespread protests and riots across the country. Supporters demanded his release, leading to attacks on civil and military installations, including the GHQ, Jinnah House, and the Mianwali airbase.
The government accused Khan of being the mastermind behind the violence, resulting in over 5,000 arrests under the Anti-Terrorism Act and other laws. The situation remains tense as the legal proceedings unfold, shaping the political landscape in Pakistan.
