Rawalpindi (Web Desk/Agencies): An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Friday dismissed the acquittal pleas of several prominent leaders from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including party founder Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
The court's decision also encompassed other key figures like Shibli Faraz, Shahryar Afridi, Kanwal Shauzab, Umar Tanvir Butt, and former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry.
These leaders had filed pleas seeking acquittal in connection with their alleged involvement in the violent incidents of May 9, 2023, which led to widespread protests and attacks on military installations, including the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
The Special Public Prosecutor, Zaheer Shah, opposing the acquittal pleas, argued that the accusations against the PTI leaders were serious and they should face trial.
The legal team representing the PTI leadership, including lawyers Faisal Chaudhry and Faisal Malik, argued before the court the to dismiss the charges.
However, the ATC ruled that the petitions for acquittal were no longer relevant after the formal indictment of the accused individuals.
On Thursday, ATC Rawalpindi Judge Amjad Ali Shah indicted other PTI figures, including Qureshi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in the same GHQ attack case.
In total, over 100 individuals have been formally charged in connection with the events surrounding the May 9 protests.
The incidents, which erupted in response to the arrest of former premier Imran Khan, saw protesters attacking key military and state properties across Pakistan, leading to numerous cases being filed, including under the Army Act for those accused of targeting military assets.
On top of rejecting the acquittal petitions, the court also dismissed requests from four accused individuals who sought permission to travel abroad, citing incomplete documentation.
The case continues to unfold as more individuals face trial for their roles in the violent upheavals that shocked the nation and led to widespread damage to public and military properties.
