The GHQ attack, which came on the heels of widespread protests triggered by Khan’s arrest, saw riots escalate into violent actions targeting both civil and military sites
By our correspondent
RAWALPINDI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Friday once again postponed the indictment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and other accused individuals involved in the May 9 attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The case, stemming from Imran Khan’s arrest on that day at the Islamabad High Court, continues to unfold amid ongoing legal challenges. Khan was attending a hearing related to corruption allegations when the attack occurred, with protesters breaching the GHQ gates in an attempt to ignite insurrection across the country.
The GHQ attack, which came on the heels of widespread protests triggered by Khan’s arrest, saw riots escalate into violent actions targeting both civil and military sites. Key installations, such as the GHQ, Jinnah House in Lahore, Mianwali airbase, and the Corps Commander House in Lahore, were vandalized by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters demanding Khan’s release. The ATC, presided over by Judge Amjad Ali Shah, conducted the hearing at Adiala Jail, where the case is being tried.
During Friday’s proceedings, the defense raised objections to the indictment, specifically pointing to the GHQ investigation report, which includes testimonies from 94 witnesses. None of these witnesses, however, directly implicated Imran Khan or any senior PTI leaders. Lawyer Babar Awan, representing Khan, argued that initial witnesses who had implicated PTI leaders had since retracted their statements. The defense also pointed out that copies of the indictment were not distributed among the 25 accused individuals present, further complicating the legal process.
The hearing was marked by the absence of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, whose attorney submitted a request for exemption from attending. Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, who is also accused in the case, has filed a petition seeking acquittal to avoid indictment.
Awan, speaking outside the ATC, criticized the trial, asserting that the charges were politically motivated. He made comparisons to the lack of formal trial for Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav and emphasized that PTI workers who had only waved flags were wrongfully labeled as terrorists. Awan further argued that four separate police investigation reports found no evidence linking PTI leaders or activists to terrorism.
