ATC Rejects Acquittal Pleas of Imran Khan, Top PTI Leaders in GHQ Attack Case
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Friday rejected acquittal petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including party founder-chairman Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in the GHQ attack case linked to the May 9, 2023, protests.
The court also turned down similar pleas by PTI leaders Shibli Faraz, Shahryar Afridi, Kanwal Shauzab, Umar Tanvir Butt, and former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry.
Special Public Prosecutor Zaheer Shah presented arguments opposing the acquittals, while PTI leaders were represented by lawyers Faisal Chaudhry and Faisal Malik. The court declared that the acquittal pleas had become infructuous following the indictment of the accused.
Additionally, the court dismissed requests from four accused individuals seeking permission to travel abroad, citing incomplete documentation.
Indictments in the GHQ Attack Case
On Thursday, ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah formally indicted Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, and 12 others in the case. To date, 113 suspects have been indicted, with six additional accused summoned for a hearing on Saturday.
The case stems from the violent protests on May 9, 2023, triggered by the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a corruption case. The unrest resulted in attacks on public and military properties, including the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and the Corps Commander’s House in Lahore.
The damage to military installations led to the registration of numerous cases against PTI leaders and workers, many of whom now face trials under the Army Act.
The ATC’s ruling marks a significant development in the high-profile case, as legal proceedings continue to address the fallout from the violent protests.
