Qureshi, 497 others charged with GHQ attack

RAWALPINDI: An Anti-Terrorism Special Court Thursday charged 498 suspects, including Tehreek-e-Insaf vice chairman and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, with attacking the GHQ and other important installations during violent protests on May 9, 2023.

Judge Malik Ijaz Asif adjourned the hearing of 12 separate cases till September 12 without any further proceedings.

The hearing of the cases was conducted in Adiala jail. Former federal minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Azam Swati, former Punjab Deputy Speaker Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi and MPA Umar Tanveer Butt and other accused were present on this occasion. Before the judge, Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi and MPA Umar Tanveer Butt denied becoming witnesses against Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, in cases linked to the May 9 unrest.They refuted the claim that they provided confessional statements under Section 164. They claimed they never testified before any magistrate, verbally or in writing, against Imran or his wife.

Abbasi and Butt stated that Imran Khan always advocated peaceful protest and the allegations against were unfounded. They also filed applications seeking acquittal due to insufficient evidence, which the court has accepted for further hearing.