ATC to hear May 9 cases today

A special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) will hear 13 cases related to the May 9 incidents today (Saturday). However, no jail trials will be conducted today either.

Cases include the attack on GHQ Gate No 4, the Army Museum, the arson of an intelligence agency building in Saddar, and the attacks on the Metro Bus Station and a sensitive agency's office on Murree Road.

ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah will hold the proceedings at the District Courts instead of Adiala Jail. As with previous hearings, charge sheet copies will be distributed among the nominated accused.

During the last hearing, the police submitted challans (charge sheets) for all the cases, and copies were distributed to 140 accused. Today, the remaining accused have been summoned to receive their copies.

Former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has not been summoned from Lahore. Imran Khan, the founder chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), will be marked present based on a production order from Adiala Jail.

Strict security arrangements have been put in place by the police for the hearings. All defence lawyers representing the accused have been informed that jail trials will not be conducted today either. Jail trials have remained suspended since February 25.