Pakistan court indicts 14 opposition leaders, including Gandapur, in army HQ attack case

A Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Thursday indicted 14 more opposition leaders, including a sitting chief minister and a retired army colonel, in a case stemming from violent protests at military headquarters last year, bringing the total number of people charged to 113.

Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Ali Amin Gandapur, former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and Colonel (retd) Shabir Awan were among those charged in connection with the May 9, 2023 attacks that followed the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a corruption case.

The court also indicted several other prominent figures belonging to Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party including Shibli Faraz, Shahryar Afridi, Kanwal Shauzab, Latasab Satti, Umar Tanveer Butt, Taimur Masood, Saad Ali Khan, Sikandar Zaib, Zohaib Afridi, Fahad Masood, and Raja Nasir Mahfooz.

Accused move to dismiss

The court also completed a preliminary hearing on a petition filed by Imran Khan challenging the sufficiency of evidence against him, while his lawyers argue the cases are politically motivated.

Several accused, including Afridi and Shauzab, filed acquittal petitions under Section 265-D of the criminal code, seeking dismissal of charges. The court will hear these petitions tomorrow at the anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi.

Following Thursday's hearing, the court cancelled Gandapur's arrest warrant after his appearance. Gandapur and Khan subsequently held a meeting in Adiala Jail, where the PTI founder has been imprisoned since August 2023.

Gandapur's legal team announced that newly appointed counsel Ghulam Hussain Sumbal will represent him in 12 separate cases related to the May 9 events. The prosecution maintains that the defendants were involved in orchestrating attacks on military installations, a charge they vehemently deny.

Dozens of accused appeared before the court today as the case continues to highlight Pakistan's political tensions, with the opposition claiming political victimization while the government asserts it is pursuing legitimate criminal charges against those responsible for attacking military installations.

The court adjourned proceedings until December 21.

May 9 GHQ attack case

Thursday's indictments mark the latest escalation in the ongoing legal battles surrounding the May 9 protests, which erupted after Khan's arrest and saw attacks on military installations, including the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and the residence of a top military commander in Lahore.

In October, Khan's legal team sought court protection from potential military trials, leading to a government confirmation that no decision had been made regarding trying the cases in military courts.

Earlier this week, nine other opposition leaders were charged in the same case, including former provincial minister Raja Rashid Hafeez. During that hearing, Shah Mahmood Qureshi had refused to sign the charge sheet, citing his pending acquittal application.

The former prime minister also used the occasion to call for an independent judicial investigation into the May 9 events, which he described as a "false flag operation."