Rawalpindi:
On Wednesday, the Punjab Home Department withdrew its previous notification for the implementation of GHQ attacking cases, which became a lawsuit in the Adiala prison, and now the case instructed the case to be held via video link, one step rejected by Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI).
During the hearing of the cases, prosecutors Ikram Ameen Minhas and Zaheer Shah presented the video’s review in court. On the special judge of the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC), Amjad Ali Shah announced that the case would be heard three times a week.
The court called three witnesses and instructed the prison superintendent to secure events for the video link hearings. The ATC judge postponed the hearing of a GHQ attack case until September 19 and postponed hearings in 11 other related cases until October 1st.
Distribution of Challans copies among the defendants who have not yet received them would continue, while charges are expected during the next hearing. Announcements were issued to Sho from Ra Bazaar Police Station.
Announcements were also issued to the investigative team for the production of three prosecution quarters. The court also issued a summons for all accused of appearing on October 1, including KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who will be represented by his prayer.
The prison trial in these cases remained suspended for three months before the new scheme was made. Of the 119 witnesses in 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 previously awarded judgments and issued Warrants to 14 accused, who, according to police reports, are deliberately absent. Litigation has now begun to declare them proclaimed offenders.
In a speech with the media after the hearing, Aleema Khan, sister of PTI, deployed Imran Khan, along with the defense lawyer strongly against the video link attempt, denoting it constitutionally, illegally and a violation of the right to just law.
They announced their intention to challenge the Punjab home department’s review for the Rawal Pindi bench in Lahore High Court (LHC). Aleema Khan said the government was trying to isolate Imran Khan by forcing video link attempts.
“This is an attempt to dampen him. He must be produced in court; video link negotiations cannot be accepted,” she said, arguing that the move would prevent Imran from consulting his lawyers.
By describing the new review as a political step tied to the 26th constitutional change, she warned that while Imran Khan was targeting today, others could face the same treatment tomorrow.
Aleema said the PTI founder had given a message that he would not bow under pressure and never accept “slavery”. She quoted Imran as saying that the rule of law and democracy has been suffocated.
According to Aleema Khan, Imran warned that the current course in Pakistan looked like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. He added that PTI had sought dialogue at all phases, yet party workers were sentenced to what he called false testimonies.
Aleema added that Imran Khan warned the leadership of political self -satisfaction and emphasized that it was time to play the role of proper resistance. 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, repeated this attitude and called the Video Link decision “The Death of Fair Trial.” They told journalists outside the ATC that the home department’s order was Mala Fide and without a legal basis.
“A fair trial requires the defendant to be physically present in court to consult with a lawyer,” they added, confirming that the decision would be contested in High Court.
In a related development, the hearing of the Toshakhana-II case against Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, who planned in Adiala Prison, was canceled. The defense was informed of the cancellation and a new date will be set to the legal complex.
