In a significant setback for jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi formally indicted him in connection with the May 9, 2023, General Headquarters (GHQ) attack case. The hearing took place in a makeshift court at Adiala Jail, where Khan’s legal team was present.
Along with Khan, 100 other individuals, including former interior minister Sheikh Rashid, were also indicted in the case, which relates to violent protests and attacks on military and government installations. Despite being named among 143 accused, Khan and other leaders denied the charges. Among the accused, 23 people, including Zulfi Bukhari and Shahbaz Gill, are listed as fugitives. All the accused have been barred from leaving the country.
The court set December 10 as the date to begin recording evidence for the prosecution. The indictment had been delayed four times previously for various reasons.
The case stems from protests following the arrest of Imran Khan by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), during which PTI supporters targeted key sites, including Jinnah House and GHQ in Rawalpindi. The military declared May 9 a “Black Day” and decided to prosecute protesters under the Army Act. Imran Khan, however, has blamed “agency men” for the violence during the protests.
Khan faces multiple legal challenges related to the May 9 violence, with previous attempts for bail in related cases being rejected.
