In a significant development, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has indicted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan in the May 9, 2023, General Headquarters (GHQ) attack case.
The hearing, presided over by ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah, took place at a temporary court set up inside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi were present, accompanied by PTI’s legal team.
A total of 100 individuals, including former interior minister Sheikh Rashid, were charged in connection with the attack, which was registered at R.A. Bazar Police Station. All the accused, including Imran Khan, denied the charges.
The case involves over 143 named individuals, with 23, including Zulfi Bukhari, Shahbaz Gill, and Murad Saeed, declared fugitives. Travel bans have also been imposed on all the accused.
The court scheduled December 10 as the date to begin recording prosecution evidence. The indictment process had faced delays, being postponed four times for various reasons.
Background on May 9 Violence
The charges stem from violent events on May 9, 2023, following Imran Khan’s arrest by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Protests erupted across the country, with demonstrators targeting civil and military installations, including the GHQ and Lahore’s Jinnah House. The military labeled the day as “Black Day” and announced that protesters involved in attacks on military assets would face trials under the Army Act.
The government, both during the previous administration and the current one, has repeatedly accused PTI leadership of orchestrating the violence. At least 70 senior PTI leaders have been implicated for allegedly planning and inciting the attacks.
Imran Khan, however, claims that “agency men” were responsible for the arson and shootings in certain areas during the unrest.
Legal Challenges for PTI Leadership
Despite securing relief in some cases, Imran Khan continues to face numerous legal battles related to the May 9 incidents. Recently, an Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore rejected his bail petitions in eight cases, including those involving the Jinnah House and Askari Tower attacks, as well as other incidents of arson and vandalism at police stations and public areas.
The trial marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing investigations into the events of May 9 and their political and legal repercussions.
