ATC rejects plea against Imran's indictment

Five accused in GHQ attack case disallowed to go abroad for Umrah

RAWALPINDI:

A special anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday rejected the petitions against the indictment of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and 12 others in May 9, 2023 GHQ attack case, as well the request of five other accused in the case for permission to them to proceed for Umrah.

Special ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah also put off the hearing of the PTI's pleas for installing the close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and provision of a copy of the proceedings to it and the bail applications of five accused toll Saturday (today).

Judge Shah rejected the petitions against the indictment of 13 accused, including PTI founder Imran Khan, former federal ministers Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Sheikh Rashid, K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Kanwal Shozab.

The petitions of five accused, including MNA Ahmed Chathha and former Punjab MPA Latasib Satti, about permission for going abroad to perform Umrah were also rejected.

The bail applications of five accused activists, including Ajmal Sabir, former MPA Javed Kausar, Khaliq Ziad Kayani, who were arrested in the November 24 and 26 protest cases were also postponed until Saturday (today). Defence lawyers had completed arguments on bail applications.

During the hearing, the defence and the government lawyer frequently engaged in verbal altercations. The judge expressed his displeasure with bitter verbal exchanges. He said that the court would not get involved in their fight.

Defence lawyers Faisal Chaudhry and Muhammad Faisal Malik Advocates were of the view that this it was a case of acquittal, as there was not even a single piece of evidence against the PTI founder. However, the prosecution argued that the PTI founder should be punished.

The court has also issued non-bailable arrest warrants against six accused, including Zain Qureshi and Nasir Mahfouz. The interim bail of journalist Sami Ibrahim was also extended in the October 5 protest case. later the hearing was adjourned.