The Punjab Home Department on Wednesday withdrew its earlier notification for conducting the GHQ attack cases trial inside Adiala Jail and now directed that the proceedings would be held via video link, a move rejected by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
During the hearing of the cases, Prosecutors Ikram Ameen Minhas and Zaheer Shah submitted the video link notification in the court. On that Special Judge of the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC), Amjad Ali Shah announced that the case would be heard three times a week.
The court summoned three witnesses and instructed the jail superintendent to ensure arrangements for the video link hearings. The ATC judge adjourned the hearing of one GHQ attack case until September 19 and postponed hearings in 11 other related cases until October 1.
Distribution of challans copies among the accused, who have not yet received them, would continue while indictments are expected at the next hearing. Notices were issued to the SHO of R.A. Bazaar Police Station.
Notices were also issued to the investigating team for the production of three prosecution witnesses. The court also issued summons for all accused to appear on October 1, including K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who will be represented by his pleader.
The jail trial in these cases remained suspended for three months before the new arrangement was made. Of the 119 witnesses in the GHQ attack cases, statements of 27 have already been recorded.
Former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Sadaqat Abbasi and other accused were present in court, while Umar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul and Kanwal Shauzab did not appear despite outstanding warrants for their arrest.
The court noted that Faisalabad courts had earlier awarded sentences and issued warrants for 14 accused who, according to police reports, are deliberately absconding. Proceedings have now been initiated to declare them proclaimed offenders.
Speaking to the media after the hearing, Aleema Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, along with defence counsel, strongly objected to the video link trial, terming it unconstitutional, unlawful and a violation of the right to fair trial.
They announced their intention to challenge the Punjab Home Department's notification before the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC). Aleema Khan said the government was attempting to isolate Imran Khan by forcing video link trials.
"This is an attempt to silence him. He should be produced in court; video link proceedings cannot be accepted," she said, arguing that the move would prevent Imran from consulting with his lawyers.
Describing the new notification as a political step tied to the 26th Constitutional Amendment, she warned that while Imran Khan was being targeted today, others could face the same treatment tomorrow.
Aleema said that the PTI founder had given a message saying that he would not bow down under pressure, and never accept "slavery". She quoted Imran as saying that the rule of law and democracy have been strangled.
According to Aleema Khan, Imran warned that the current trajectory in Pakistan resembled that of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. He added that PTI had sought dialogue at every stage, yet party workers were being sentenced on what he called false testimonies.
Aleema added that Imran Khan cautioned the leadership against political complacency and stressed that it was time to play the role of proper opposition. Imran urged supporters to demonstrate strength at the party's planned rally on September 27, she said.
PTI's legal team, Faisal Mehmood Malik and Hasnain Sanbal, echoed this stance, calling the video link decision "the death of fair trial." They told reporters outside the ATC that the Home Department's order was mala fide and without legal basis.
"A fair trial requires the accused to be physically present in court to consult with counsel," they added, confirming that the decision would be challenged in the High Court.
In a related development, the hearing of Toshakhana-II case against Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, which scheduled inside Adiala Jail, was cancelled. The defence was informed of the cancellation, and a new date will be set at the Judicial Complex.
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