PTI founder Imran Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Omar Ayub, Sheikh Rashid among PTI figures indicted in 23rd May, 2023 GHQ attack case
After ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah read the charge-sheet, the accused denied the allegations
Omar Ayub, MNA Ahmad Chatta & Raja Basharat arrested from outside Adiala Jail
ISLAMABAD ( WEB NEWS )
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and ex-prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday was indicted in the case of attacking the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on May 9, 2023, while Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Omar Ayum Khan, MNA Muhammad Ahmad Chatta, former Punjab law minister Raja Basharat, were arrested from outside Adiala Jail.
Imran Khan and other accused were indicted in the May 9 GHQ attack case on Thursday after it was deferred for four times.
An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi framed charges against the 60 accused, including former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, ex-railways minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, former law minister Raja Basharat and Zartaj Gul.
The PTI founder and his deputy Qureshi were produced in court where their lawyers were also present. After ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah read the charge-sheet, they denied the allegations. The case was adjourned till December 10.
Following the arrest of the ex-premier on May 9, 2023, from the Islamabad High Court’s premises, riots erupted across the country that went on for at least 24 hours.
At least 10 people lost their lives and hundreds sustained injuries, while approximately 40 public buildings and military installations were damaged, including Lahore Corps Commander’s House (Jinnah House) and Askari Tower in Lahore, General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Office in Faisalabad, FC Fort in Chakdara, Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar, Toll Plaza at Swat Motorway and the Mianwali Air Base.
In total, 62 outbreaks of violence were documented, inflicting a loss of Rs2.5 billion on the country, of which, according to the State, Rs1.98bn in losses were suffered by the army. To this day, the military says the events were a coordinated attack by the PTI leadership.
There are over 143 accused in the GHQ attack case registered at RA Bazar police station, including the PTI founder. The court has declared 23 accused, including Shahbaz Gil and Zulfi Bukhari, absconders. Ten people were convicted for their role in the riots by an Islamabad anti-terrorism court on November 23.
In Thursday’s hearing, the PTI founder was indicted along with other party figures, including ex-interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, former law minister Raja Basharat, and PTI leader Zartaj Gul Wazir.
In a post on X, the PTI issued a statement condemning the arrests, stating that the state’s approach “exposes the reality of an undeclared martial law in Pakistan”. “Such acts reflect desperation, not strength!” the party added in its statement.