GHQ attack case: Police submit interim challan against Imran, Qureshi, others in ATC

RAWALPINDI. The RA Bazaar police station submitted an interim challan of the GHQ attack case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and others in the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) here on Saturday.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, former federal ministers and the central, provincial and local leadership of Tehreek-e-Insaf were fully responsible for inciting people to attack the military installations, the police said in the challan.

ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah, after submission of the interim challan, adjourned the hearing till October 30. In the challan, the RA Bazaar police said the statements of Imran Khan on social media incited PTI workers against the army. The top PTI leader asked the party workers to take all possible illegal measures so that the top military leadership and the federal and provincial governments were forced to resign. Like terrorist organisations, they carried out targeted attacks on state and military institutions under complete coordination, the irrefutable evidence of which was obtained from PEMRA, FIA and other sources.

The court distributed copies of the case to the accused. Lawyers for Imran Khan also filed three separate applications, including ones related to telephonic contact with his sons and medical examination.

Malik Faisal Advocate said in a petition that he should be allowed to meet Imran Khan as he would take instructions from his client related to the GHQ attack case.

In the challan, the police stated that audio and video messages from the IT lab on social media, CCTV footage obtained from JAG branch of GHQ, and soldiers on duty, were not being allowed. A challan had been prepared with irrefutable evidence in the light of the statements of Imran Khan on social media, which incited his party workers against the army and asked them to take all possible illegal measures.

In 2022, Dr Shahbaz Gill, the party’s central spokesperson, while speaking in a private TV channel show, tried to divide the Pakistan Army jawans and brigadier rank officers by inciting them to rebel against the higher military officers and disobey their orders. On Sept 8, 2022, a case was registered against him at the Kohsar police station, Islamabad. During investigation, Shehbaz admitted that he had not given any statement outside the party policy and stood by his statement.

Similarly, on April 6, 2023, a leaked audio message of Ali Amin Gandapur was also aired on a private TV channel in which he said that his first message was for the imported government of PDM that if the former chairman was arrested, “we will occupy Islamabad by public power and take over Islamabad from the government.

“If there is any obstacle, we will treat the police as PDM workers; so the police should stay away from the political war and let the people decide who they want. Everyone should reach Islamabad in Jihad.”

It was stated in the challan that, on May 9, when Imran Khan was arrested in Islamabad in the Al-Qadir Trust case, the PTI protested in the entire country. The purpose of the riots was not only to destroy law and order but also to damage the reputation of important defence installations and institutions.

On May 9, 2023, at the time of departure from Lahore, the former PTI chairman issued a statement on social media that “these people have arrested me, and the situation in the country may become like Sri Lanka or worse”.

In a statement, issued by Hammad Azhar’s social media account, it was said that “people should reach Lahore Liberty Chowk and jam the wheels…”

On May 9, a statement was released from Zubair Niazi’s social media account, saying “he has hurt our leader, now he will be reckoned with.”

GHQ, corps headquarters, ISI offices, airbases, martyrs’ memorials, important defence installations and civil institutions, including the police, were attacked under the joint attack. These attacks were carried out at the instigation of Imran Khan and other PTI leaders.

On May 9 last year, the police had registered a case number 708 against Sub-Inspector Muhammad Riaz under Section 7/21(I) of the Anti-Terrorism Act and Sections 353, 186, 341, 440, 441, 146 of the Pakistan Penal Code. According to the case registered under 148, 149, 107, 109, 120A, 120B, 121, 121A, 131, 146, 133, 153A, 153B, 201, 395, 412, 188 and 34, former provincial minister Raja Basharat and local leadership Khalid Jadoon. As many as 250-300 people, armed with sticks, stones, slingshots and petrol bombs, reached Gate No. 1 of GHQ, shouting slogans and abuses against the Pakistan Army and at the instigation of the party leadership. The mob broke the gate and entered the GHQ, while setting fire to block the road and throwing petrol bombs.