Rawalpindi: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday rejected the acquittal of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan in the May 9, 2023, attack on General Headquarters (GHQ) case related to the violent protests. This development occurred during the hearing of the former prime minister’s request for acquittal – filed under Article 265 of the Constitution. ATC judge Amjad Ali Shah presided over the hearing of the case at a temporary court in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. During the hearing, prosecutor Zheer Shah noted that the prosecution has sufficient evidence against the accused and the trial in the GHQ attack case is ongoing. He argued that 12 witnesses have been reported so far and requests for acquittal cannot be granted during the ongoing trial. After hearing the arguments, the atc judge dismissed the lawsuit and postponed the hearing. Last month, the Rawalpindi ATC charged a total of 100 people, including Imran and former interior minister Sheikh Rashida, in the GHQ attack case — which was registered in the R.A. Police station bazaar. However, Imran denied the other accused’s allegations against them. More than 143 persons, including Khan, have been accused in the case, while 23, including Zulfi Bukhari, Shahbaz Gill and Murad Saeed, have been listed as fugitives. In addition, it was forbidden to travel abroad. At least 70 PTI leaders have been accused of planning the May 9 events and inciting workers and supporters to attack military and government installations following the arrest of the ousted prime minister by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). During the protests, miscreants targeted civilian and military facilities, including the House of Jinnah and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The army called May 9 “Black Day” and decided to try the protesters under the Army Act. However, the PTI founder blames “agency men” for arson and firing in some areas during the May 9 violent protests. Both the former and the current government repeatedly accuse the founder of PTI and the party’s top leadership of allegedly “organized” attacks on military facilities. Despite securing help in major cases, the former prime minister still faces a number of cases related to the May 9 incidents being heard by the Anti-Terrorism Court. In October 2023, Imran’s bail applications in eight cases related to the 9 May violence, including the Jinnah House attack, were rejected by the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore. The cases included allegations related to the Jinnah House and Askari Tower attacks, arson and vandalism at the Shadman police station, and the burning of police vehicles at Rahaat Bakery Chowk and Zaman Park.
