An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in the garrison city on Thursday finally indicted former prime minister Imran Khan and over 100 other PTI leaders and workers in a case related to an attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ) following the arrest of Imran on May 9, 2023.
An ATC in Lahore also indicted PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and some other PTI leaders in a case related to acts of violence committed on May 9 in Punjab's provincial capital.
The hearing of the case in Rawalpindi was presided over by Judge Syed Amjad Ali Shah in a courtroom inside the city's famous Adiala Jail.
Imran Khan and other accused including National Assembly Leader of Opposition Omar Ayub, former Interior minister Sheikh Rashid, Sadaqat Abbasi, Raja Basharat and Zartaj Gul attended the hearing.
During the hearing, Special Public Prosecutor Zaheer Shah read out the charge-sheet in the presence of the accused on the court's directive.
The charges included rebellion, criminal conspiracy, terrorism, attempted murder, vandalism, and other offenses. All the accused, including the PTI founder, denied the charges.
The court later adjourned the hearing till December 10, directing the prosecution to present evidence.
It also dismissed Imran's petition challenging the court's jurisdiction. Prosecutor Shah argued that violent protests aimed at pressuring the government fall under terrorism.
He claimed the attack on the GHQ was intended to incite rebellion within the Pakistan Armed Forces and was part of an organized plan resembling those of terrorist organizations to achieve political goals.
According to Shah, military targets were identified before May 9. The attack on the GHQ was widely covered by international media, with Indian media leading the coverage.
He said in July 2023, the Punjab Home Department issued a report on the May 9 incidents, stating that the rioting resulted in an estimated loss of Rs1.66 billion, with 102 vehicles damaged and 26 buildings targeted in organized assaults.
He said the May 9 events were a direct attack on national security and state stability, constituting not only terrorism but an attempt to wage war against the state of Pakistan.
The prosecutor further argued that challenging the court's jurisdiction after a delay of 19 months was a tactic to evade indictment.
He said damaging public property, looting, and arson fall under terrorism, as does creating chaos by paralyzing civilian life.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court dismissed the petition challenging its jurisdiction.
Interestingly, after the hearing Omar Ayub, Raja Basharat, Malik Ahmed Chattha, Majid Danial and Malik Azeem were rounded up by police as soon as they came out of Adiala's Gate No 5.
According to sources, the PTI leaders were booked under various charges after the PTI's recent march that was dispersed by authorities on the night of November 26.
All the five leaders were supposed to be presented before an ATC on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, an ATC in Lahore indicted PTI leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Yasmin Rashid, Omer Sarfaraz Cheema, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed and Ijaz Chaudhry in another May 9 case.
All the accused rejected the charges levelled against them by the prosecution. The court convened inside Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail later adjourned till December 16.
WITH INPUT FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN LAHORE
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