Pakistan court rejects Imran Khan's bid to drop charges in military HQ attack case

A Pakistani court on Friday rejected attempts by former Prime Minister Imran Khan and several opposition leaders to dismiss charges against them in a high-profile case involving attacks on military headquarters last year.

The case, being tried in an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi, stems from violent protests in May 2023, when Khan's supporters allegedly attacked military installations after his arrest on corruption charges.

Apart from Khan, the ATC also rejected acquittal petitions from former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, former Senator Shibli Faraz, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Chaudhry Saad Ali, Sikandar Zeb, Raja Nasir, former Minister Shehrayar Afridi, Kanwal Shozab, Saad Siraj, and Umar Tanveer Butt.

Defense lawyers had filed applications under Section 265-D of the Criminal Procedure Code, arguing insufficient evidence for conviction. However, the judge noted that since charges were already framed on December 5 against some defendants, these acquittal applications were ineffective.

According to the court, there was sufficient evidence to proceed with the trial against Khan and other leaders of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, including former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

Prosecutor Zaheer Shah presented what he described as substantial evidence, including CCTV footage, witness statements, and confessions, arguing for daily hearings to expedite the trial.

"We have ample evidence against the accused, supported by media regulatory authority PEMRA, federal investigation agency FIA, and internal security reports," Shah told the court.

The court also issued arrest warrants for six PTI leaders who failed to appear for hearings, including Makhdoom Zain Qureshi and Chaudhry Bilal.

The GHQ attack case

The rejection acquittal applications marks 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.

Earlier this week, more than a dozen PTI 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 government claims PTI leadership orchestrated these attacks, while the opposition maintains they are being targeted for challenging military influence in Pakistani politics.

*Reporting by Ali Hamza