Suspects get challans in GHQ attack case

ATC fixes Nov 8 for indicting PTI activists involved in the case

RAWALPINDI:

A Special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Wednesday handed over challan copies to 12 PTI leaders and 32 PTI activists, who were accused in the May 9 GHQ attack case. The judge fixed November 8 for indicting all the accused in the GHQ attack case as the counsels of the PTI founder Imran Khan refused to receive the latter's copies.

But the PTI founder, Imran Khan could not be provided with a copy of the challan. The judge cancelled the schedule for Adiala's jail visit.

During the hearing, PTI lawyers were asked to distribute the challan copies of the PTI founder, but lawyers Faisal Malik and Malik Amir refused to receive the copies, saying that they needed Khan's instructions. Due to this, the issue of indictment was delayed as of November 8.

Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed filed petitions for acquittal on the basis of lack of evidence in all 14 cases of the May 9 tragedy, which were accepted for hearing. All parties have been summoned for arguments.

The former minister thought that these cases were for political revenge. He was not present in Rawalpindi on May 9 and how could one accused vandalise at 14 places in different remote areas at the same time? The police have done this just to increase the number of cases, Rashid argued and sought his acquittal.

Later, Judge Amjad Ali Shah distributed challans among the PTI leaders and activists, who were already on bail in the GHQ attack case. They included Shibli Faraz, Sheikh Rashid, Usman Dar, Sadaqat Abbasi, Wasiq Qayyum, Zartaj Gul, Umar Ayub, Raja Basharat, Kanwal Shuzab and Shireen Mazari.

The court declared that all the accused, who had not received the copies of the challan earlier, would be receiving documents today (Wednesday) and the formal trial of the case would begin on November 8. Meanwhile, the court issued arrest warrants for the 12 workers, who were absent.

Meanwhile, the May 9 GHQ attack case has been separated from the other 13 cases.