Questions and objections surrounded Friday’s consultation as petitions on Pakistan Tehreek-in-In-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to act in person before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) was rejected and the procedure continued.
There were strict security measures at Rawalpindi ATC. Over 700 police officers and staff were deployed, with more than 50 traffic guards and officers awarded to ensure even traffic flow.
Outside the court, the road from the Commissioner’s office to District Council Gate was completely sealed. Parking for lawyers, defendants, media cars and DNG vans were prohibited. The entry of additional lawyers in the courtroom was limited and carrying cell phones or registering videos inside were declared a crime.
PTI leaders and lawyers gathered outside and expressed concern to the media over Imran Khan’s limited presence and public visibility. Former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry said the demand for video link was to keep the PTI chair in isolation. “These are not normal litigation,” he said, noting that ATCs do not allow photography or media inside because “the courts are afraid of images of Imran that are leaking. A picture leaked from the Supreme Court and half the Supreme Court had to be suspended.”
Chaudhry referred to a photo that leaked last year when Imran appeared for a five-member major bench led by former Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa during a hearing of the government’s intra court’s appeal against the point of pointing court to cancel the neighboring laws.
As the news of the picture spread on social media, a study was launched to identify the person who leaked it.
Attorney Faisal Malik reiterated that either the PTI founder should be produced in court or that a transparent prison attempt should be arranged.
A message of home department for a video link case case in the GHQ attack case was quickly challenged, while a separate petition sought IMRAN’s court’s performance was filed. PTI -Attorneys challenged the message in ATC.
ATC admitted the petition for consultation, with defense attorneys Faisal Malik and lawyer Ali Bukhari presented arguments. The development came after the Punjab government formally withdrew its notification for a prison attempt in the case.
Negotiations began with Imran’s lawyers objecting to not being allowed to meet their client to prepare for the consultation. The defense attorney claimed, “It is necessary to meet the client before the trial to take instructions.”
“The defendant is a former prime minister, but the law cannot be changed for him. A fair correction model is already found within the law. If the defendant is not satisfied with the trial, he must challenge it. We will not let the trial be hijacked.
The defense replied, “Our straightforward argument is – where is the defendant? We are not disturbing the trial; we are only seeking consultation with our client. We demand from the court, our basic right and our client’s right. We were told that the defendants would be produced via video link, not a WhatsApp call.”
He said the video link case was handed over Thursday at. 17.00. Attorney Salman Akram Raja will challenge this review Friday at the Rawal Pindi bench at High Court.
IMRAN briefly joined the hearing via VideoLink, where his lawyer informed ATC: “We lawyers boycott in protest and are also approaching the Supreme Court.” Imran repeated his lawyer’s intentions: “Your decision is correct, I will also boycott.” As soon as Imran expressed his plan, video link was turned off.
Imran and his lawyers announced a boycott of the GHQ case in ATC of concern about video links. Prosecutor Naveed Malik and Zaheer Shah, together with the legal team, were present during the procedure heard by ATC judge Amjad Ali Shah.
Attorney Faisal Malik also said: “How can there be a fair trial without the defendant? We have applied for the court to call the PTI founder and hope the court will call him today. Look at the atmosphere outside – the government itself is a party in this case, so a video attempt cannot be implemented.”
However, the course continued and witness statements were registered. The behavior of two prosecution quarters, sub -inspector Saleem Qureshi and sub -inspector Manzoor Shehzad, were registered, with both presented 13 USBs containing various video clips to the court.
Attorney Faisal Malik protested that the trial through video link was “absolutely illegal” and against the principles of justice. He highlighted how unreliable video link connection was, and said the video was taking place through WhatsApp.
The defense attorney stated that the government attorney had also been sent out and until a decision has been made, IMRAN is unlikely to appear via video link. Attorney Faisal Malik said IMRAN has instructed lawyers not to allow a video link attempt.
“During the WhatsApp call, the voice broke and the picture was not visible.” Salman Akram Raja is towards the video link and will take the petition for High Court. He emphasized that this lawsuit violates Article 10-A in the Constitution and the requirements of a fair trial.
The court also prohibited getting a printout of the video link hearing. The defense attorney added that if force is used to carry out the trial via video link, Imran will not appear.
According to the witnesses, 40 videos related to the PTI founder on May 9 were downloaded. Video clips by Khadim Khokhar, Shehryar Afridi, Umar Tanveer, Sadaqat Abbasi and Sikandar Mirza, along with clips from various national newspapers. Digital evidence was obtained from CCTV cameras installed on Benazir Bhutto Road, Mall Road, Liaquat Bagh and nearby areas, the witnesses said.
The court rejected the request to portray the PTI founder personally. According to the Punjab’s notification, the PTI founder will continue to appear via video link, the court said. It called 10 witnesses from the Federal Investigation Agency, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, Press Information Department, Internal Security and the Interior Ministry for the next consultation.
The court had called three key witnesses for Friday. Out of 119 witnesses, the statements from 27 have already been registered. After a gap of two and a half months, the testimony in the GHQ attack case was heard.
The case has been postponed until 23 September.
Read: ATC orders Imran Khan will appear via video link in the next consultation
GHQ attack
An anti-terrorism Court (ATC) in December 2024 accused former Prime Minister Imran Khan and other PTI leaders in connection with May 9, 2023, attacked the general headquarters (GHQ).
Earlier this year, Imran Khan was arrested in the GHQ attack case, and shortly afterwards his release order was issued in the Cypher case. Express News achieved a copy of the GHQ Attack Case report that outlines 27 serious charges against Imran Khan and other accused persons.
Read more: Imran Khan accused in May 9 -Refresh Case
The report claims that the defendant under the leadership of the former minister of provincial law Raja Basharat, the accused stormed the GHQ port, causing significant property damage despite being warned by military staff to stop.
It is also alleged that the defendants have broken into sensitive areas of GHQ, set fires, thrown gasoline bombs and created chaos in the premises.
According to the report, song like “No Pakistan without Khan” and “Behind this terrorism allegedly raised, targeted at military staff and attacks reputation for Pakistan’s armed forces.
The investigation report states that attacks were also made on sensitive ISI and GHQ offices that characterize the protest as a criminal conspiracy.
