Govt seeks regular hearing in GHQ case

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan submitted a plea in the Anti-Terrorism Court for acquittal in General Headquarters (GHQ) attack case while the state prosecutor requested the court to hear the case on a daily basis.

Judge Amjad Ali Shah heard the GHQ attack case in Rawalpindi. PTI founder Imran Khan could not be produced in court due to security concerns. Shah Mehmood Qureshi was also not shifted to Rawalpindi from Lahore for the hearing. The counsels for PTI leaders Ali Amin Gandapur, Zartaj Gul, Shibli Faraz and Zain Qureshi submitted requests for exemption from court appearance that were accepted by the court with a direction that they ensure their appearance at the next hearing. However, Sheikh Rashid, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, Usman Dar and others appeared before the court.

Talking to media after the hearing, Special Prosecutor Raja Ikram Amin Minhas said that the accused were misusing their bails and skipping court hearings, adding the GHQ attack case was lodged against 119 individuals and the court could not indict the accused in their absence. The special prosecutor said he requested the court to cancel their bails and hear the case on a regular basis.