ATC rejects PTI founder's petition to halt proceedings in GHQ attack case 

Rawalpindi (Web Desk): An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi on Tuesday dismissed plea filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former premier Imran Khan in connection with the May 9 case concerning the attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ).

The petitions sought suspension of trial proceedings and provision of CCTV footage from an earlier hearing.

Judge Amjad Ali Shah presided over the session, during which Imran Khan was connected virtually through a WhatsApp link.

His lawyer Faisal Malik argued that the defence team could not meaningfully participate without consulting the former prime minister and therefore requested the suspension of the proceedings until the high court decided on the transfer of the jail trial.

He further contended that a WhatsApp call did not qualify as a proper video link and pressed for additional time to contest the court’s previous ruling.

The judge, however, responded that while the order could be challenged, the ongoing proceedings could not be halted.

The prosecution objected to the defence’s conduct, with prosecutor Ikram Amin stating that the lawyers were wasting time by boycotting hearings and then asking for adjournments.

Prosecutor Zaheer Shah maintained that questioning the court’s decision bordered on contempt, whereas the defence insisted they were only demanding a fair trial, emphasizing that without direct communication between Khan and his lawyers, due process was compromised.

When the defence pressed for access to CCTV footage of the September 19 hearing, the prosecution cited Lahore High Court instructions prohibiting release of any recordings or transcripts.

Salman Akram Raja argued in response that the judiciary was bound by the constitution and not by government directives, stressing that keeping a detained individual present on WhatsApp could not ensure justice.

After considering arguments from both sides, the court dismissed Khan’s petitions and postponed the hearing until September 27. So far, 41 witnesses have recorded their testimonies in the case.

This latest order follows the court’s earlier rejection of Khan’s request for physical appearance after the Punjab government annulled jail trials for all May 9-related cases, including the GHQ attack case.

Khan, along with several PTI leaders and workers, was indicted in December 2024. In total, 143 people were named as accused, while 23—including Zulfi Bukhari, Shahbaz Gill, and Murad Saeed—were declared absconders. Travel restrictions were also placed on all accused.

Authorities allege that around 70 senior PTI figures orchestrated the May 9 unrest, inciting workers and supporters to assault military and government properties after Khan’s arrest in the £190 million settlement case by the National Accountability Bureau.

The violent demonstrations saw attacks on sensitive sites such as Jinnah House in Lahore and the GHQ in Rawalpindi, leading to widespread arrests of party members and leaders in 2023.