Shah Mehmood Qureshi moved to Adiala Jail as charges loom in GHQ attack case

Shah Mehmood Qureshi, senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former foreign minister, has been transferred to Adiala Jail, where he is expected to be formally indicted in connection with the May 9 attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ).

The case is part of a broader investigation into the violent protests that erupted following the arrest of PTI chairman Imran Khan.

On Sunday, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) heard 13 of the 14 cases related to the May 9 incident at Adiala Jail. Judge Amjad Ali Shah conducted the proceedings, during which the court recorded the attendance of the accused.

The court adjourned the hearings of these cases until January 6, while one more case related to the GHQ attack will be heard later today. The court has also issued a plea to cancel the bail of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur due to his repeated absence from court.

Several other key political figures, including former Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad and ex-Law Minister of Punjab Raja Basharat, attended the hearing. Qureshi's legal team is preparing for the formal reading of charges, which is expected today.

Additionally, hearings related to other cases from the May 9 protests, including charges of vandalism and violence, have been postponed until January 2024.

Arrest warrants issued for CM Gandapur, Shibli Faraz, others in GHQ attack case

Last week, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi issued non-bailable arrest warrants for 25 absentees in the ongoing case over the May 9 attack on the GHQ, including prominent leaders from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The list of PTI leaders facing arrest warrants includes Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, former ministers Shibli Faraz, Kanwal Shauzab, Rashid Hafeez, Colonel Shabbir, Umar Tanveer Butt, and Shehryar Afridi.

The court issued the warrants after the accused failed to appear at the hearing.

The GHQ attack case continues to attract significant attention, with numerous PTI leaders implicated in the violence.

Bushra Bibi's arrest warrants cancelled

An accountability court and a special court cancelled the arrest warrants for Bushra Bibi, wife of PTI founder, after her appearance in the £190 million reference and Toshakhana 2 cases last week.

In the £190 million reference, Bibi submitted her replies to the 79 court queries before Accountability Judge Nasir Javed Rana, while Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand deferred her indictment in the Toshakhana 2 case till December 12.

In the £190 million reference, both Bibi and Imran submitted their statements under Section-342 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). In their statements, Imran informed the court that he would present witnesses in his defense, while Bushra Bibi stated she would not call any witnesses.

Both Bibi and Imran were present in the court during the hearing conducted inside the Adiala Jail premises. On court appearance, Judge Rana cancelled Bibi's arrest warrants.