RAWALPINDI — The Punjab government has ordered that all 11 cases registered against former prime minister Imran Khan in connection with the May 9, 2023 violence be tried via video link from Adiala Jail before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Rawalpindi.
According to a notification issued by the Punjab Home Department, the decision was made under Sections 15(2) and 21(2)(b) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. The move aims to ensure the PTI founder’s security and prevent any untoward incidents during court appearances.
The order consolidates all 11 first information reports (FIRs) — registered at police stations including RA Bazaar, Civil Lines, City, Waris Khan, New Town, Morgah, Sadiqabad, Saddar Wah, and Cantt — under the jurisdiction of the Rawalpindi ATC. All hearings will now take place remotely, with Imran Khan participating through a secure video link from jail.
Replaces Earlier Notifications
The latest directive replaces previous notifications issued on June 21, 2023, October 4, 2023, and November 6, 2024, which also dealt with the transfer and venue of these trials. The most recent order was withdrawn after being challenged before the Lahore High Court (LHC).
An ATC in Rawalpindi had earlier upheld the provincial government’s authority to conduct hearings virtually, dismissing a PTI plea against the arrangement in the case related to the attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ). Judge Amjad Ali Shah ruled that the government’s notification was lawful and that the accused would continue to attend proceedings remotely.
Security and Legal Context
Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9, 2023, sparked violent protests across the country, during which government buildings, police stations, and military installations — including the GHQ in Rawalpindi — were attacked. Dozens of cases were subsequently registered under anti-terrorism laws against PTI leaders and supporters.
The new notification consolidates all Rawalpindi district cases before the same ATC, a step officials say will streamline the judicial process. It directs the superintendent of Adiala Jail to facilitate Imran Khan’s safe participation via video link and has been circulated to the advocate general of Punjab, the LHC registrar, the ATC presiding judge, and the inspector general of prisons.
Imran Khan, indicted in the GHQ attack case on December 5, 2024, has been held at Adiala Jail since August 2023 and was later arrested in additional May 9 cases in January 2024.
PTI Objections
Khan’s legal team has criticized the government’s insistence on video-link trials, calling it politically motivated and a violation of open justice principles. Provincial authorities, however, maintain that the decision is based purely on security considerations and the need for efficient case management.
With this latest directive, all pending May 9-related trials in Rawalpindi are set to proceed simultaneously via video link — a move that could expedite proceedings but is also expected to renew debate over the right to a fair and public trial.
