RAWALPINDI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Friday dismissed a plea challenging the decision to present Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan via video link in the GHQ attack case after which Khan and his lawyers boycotted the proceedings.
Imran Khan was arrested on May 9, 2023, which triggered violent protests across the country in which government buildings and military installations, including the General Headquarters (GHQ), were attacked and set ablaze.
On Friday, prior to Khan’s appearance via video link, his lawyer argued that the move was unacceptable.
Public prosecutor Zaheer Shah, on the other hand, maintained that the trial had been shifted from Adiala jail to the ATC under an executive order of the Punjab government — a decision that could only be reviewed by a constitutional court.
He further said that after the 2016 amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure, accused persons can be presented before court through video link.
ATC rejects Imran’s acquittal plea in GHQ attack case
Citing Sections 15 and 21 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, he argued that the court had the authority to proceed in the case and that the government was not bound to provide reasons for transferring the proceedings.
The prosecutor contended that filing a petition against Khan’s appearance via video link was aimed at obstructing proceedings and wasting time. He said the defence could approach a higher court but the trial could not be halted.
Defence counsel Faisal Malik maintained that they wanted a fair trial, which was only possible if the accused was physically present in court.
He informed the court that they had received a copy of the provincial government’s notification only a day earlier and would challenge it in a higher court.
The court dismissed Khan’s plea for personal appearance, ruling that he could be produced before the ATC via video link under the Punjab government’s notification.
Later, prison authorities presented Imran Khan via video link. When his lawyer requested to speak, the court allowed Faisal Malik to do so but barred him from making political remarks.
Subsequently, Malik informed the court that Khan had directed them not to participate in the proceedings. Imran Khan also boycotted the trial, and his lawyers walked out of the courtroom.
The court then recorded the statements of two prosecution witnesses, Sub-Inspector Saleem Qureshi and Sub-Inspector Manzoor Shahzad, who submitted 13 USBs containing 40 videos related to the May 9 riots, along with video clips of other PTI leaders and newspaper clippings.
The witnesses said the digital evidence was obtained from CCTV cameras installed on Benazir Bhutto Road, Mall Road, Liaquat Bagh, and surrounding areas.
The court summoned 10 more witnesses for the next hearing on September 23, including representatives from PEMRA, FIA, PTI, the Press Information Department, Internal Security, and the Ministry of Interior.
It is worth mentioning that Imran Khan was indicted in this case on December 5, 2023. He has been imprisoned in Adiala jail since August 2023, and was rearrested by Rawalpindi police in January this year in connection with the May 9 riots case.