ATC rejects acquittal pleas of Imran Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi in GHQ attack case

Court also rejects pleas of Shibli Faraz, Shahryar Afridi, Kanwal Shauzab, Umar Tanvir Butt, and Fawad Chaudhry

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi dismissed the acquittal pleas of several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including party founder Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in connection with the May 9, 2023, GHQ attack case. 

The court also rejected the acquittal requests of PTI leaders Shibli Faraz, Shahryar Afridi, Kanwal Shauzab, Umar Tanvir Butt, and former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry.

Special Public Prosecutor Zaheer Shah argued against the acquittal petitions, while the PTI leaders were represented by lawyers Faisal Chaudhry and Faisal Malik. The court ruled that the pleas were rendered "infructuous" after the accused were formally indicted in the case.

Additionally, the court rejected requests from the four accused to travel abroad due to incomplete documentation. 

On the previous day, ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah indicted Qureshi and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, along with 12 others, bringing the total number of indicted suspects in the case to 113. The court has summoned six other accused for trial on Saturday.

The GHQ attack case stems from the violent riots that erupted across Pakistan following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan in a corruption case. The protests, which included attacks on military installations and public properties, led to numerous cases being registered against PTI leaders and members, with several facing trials under the Army Act.