Imran Khan, Sheikh Rashid among 100 indicted in GHQ attack case

Monitoring Desk RAWALPINDI: 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 senior PTI leaders, including ex-law minister Raja Basharat, were arrested from outside Adiala Jail. 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 Gill 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.The anti-terrorism court in Adiala Jail indicted 100 accused present in court on charges of sedition, terrorism, attempted murder, sabotage, arson, encirclement and criminal conspiracy. Meanwhile, top Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders including Omar Ayub Khan were taken into custody by police in Rawalpindi on Thursday. Alonside Ayub, other PTI leaders include Raja Basharat, Ahmed Chattha, and Azim-ud-Din.PTI lawyer Rana Mudassar told reporters that Ayub and Basharat were arrested by policemen at Adiala Jail’s check post. He added that it was unclear what charges led to the arrests of the PTI leaders.Ayub was among 100 accused indicted in the anti-terror case carries charges of inciting the workers and supporters to attack military and government installations following the arrest of the ousted prime minister by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) last year.Ayub had secured bail in some cases, including GHQ attack and D-Chowk protest, however, it did not end his legal woes as he was booked in six new cases under various charges following the party’s November 24 “final call” protest in Islamabad that saw fierce clashes between the law enforcers and the PTI workers last week. Subsequently, a special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi had dismissed an acquittal petition yesterday, filed by the opposition leader in the GHQ attack case, registered against 120 people including PTI senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi. In the GHQ attack case, Ayub had dismissed the charges against him saying there was neither evidence of his presence at the scene nor he was directly or indirectly related to the case.