GHQ attack case: Imran Khan’s appeal for footage, stopping trial dismissed

Rawalpindi: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Rawalpindi dismissed two petitions filed by the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during the hearing of the May 9 GHQ attack case.

ATC judge Amjad Ali Shah heard the case. Imran Khan, Faisal Malik, and Salman Akram Raja appeared in the court. Special prosecutors Zaheer Shah and Ikram Amin Minhas appeared with the team.

Two petitions were filed by the PTI founder. The lawyers requested that the footage of the September 19 court proceedings and CCTV cameras be provided. The second petition requested that the court proceedings be stopped until the High Court issues an order to transfer the jail trial.

Lawyer Faisal Malik said that the PTI founder does not want to be a part of the court proceedings until consultation. On this, the court said that during the previous hearing, you talked to the founder and he boycotted the court proceedings. You should challenge the WhatsApp communication in the High Court.

Imran Khan's lawyer, Faisal Malik, said that we have challenged the WhatsApp communication in the High Court, WhatsApp call video link cannot be considered, we should be given time to challenge the previous order of this court.

The court ruled that you should go and challenge it; the court proceedings cannot be stopped.

Prosecutor Ikram Amin Minhas said that at the previous hearing, the defense lawyers boycotted the court proceedings. In today's hearing, the court is not bound to answer any question of the defense lawyers; one day they leave the court and the other day they say that they should be given time.

The prosecutor further said that the prosecution witnesses are to be recorded, the trial cannot be stopped. The defense lawyers' conduct is telling that it is not serious for the trial, the defense lawyers are just wasting the court's time.

Prosecutor Zaheer Shah said that there is no law to stop the trial. The court has already made an order on the request of the defense lawyers in the previous hearing. Raising questions on the court order falls under the category of contempt of court.

Lawyer Faisal Malik said that we are demanding a fair trial. If the accused cannot listen to his lawyer or the lawyer cannot listen to his client, then how can this be a fair trial? On this, Prosecutor Zaheer Shah said that boycotting the court proceedings and applying again is a U-turn.

Prosecutor Zaheer Shah informed the court that, according to the orders of the Lahore High Court, no footage, transcripts can be provided to anyone. The defense lawyers need an excuse to go out and become victims of the media; the same court approved Aleema Khan's bail a few days ago.

Salman Akram Raja said that the courts do not operate on government instructions, but according to the constitution, this cannot be done. The court calls a person locked in a cell to be presented on WhatsApp calls.

The court told lawyer Salman Akram Raja that you have every right to challenge the order of this court; until the High Court issues an order, the court proceedings cannot be stopped.

Salman Akram Raja said that it is not necessary to run the trial at a fast pace; we should be allowed to consult with the founder of PTI.

To this, the court said that the last time your lawyers were allowed to talk to the founder, he started making speeches. Salman Akram Raja replied that we are not being allowed to meet the founder of PTI, the lawyer follows the instructions of his client.

The court ruled that the trial court cannot ignore the instructions and orders of the High Court.

The founder of PTI was presented to the court on a WhatsApp link. The defense lawyers sought permission to talk to the founder of PTI, and the court allowed them to talk to Imran Khan.

The defense lawyers boycotted the court proceedings again after the sound dropped, and the PTI founder's appearance was not clearly visible.

Salman Akram Raja and lawyer Faisal Malik left the court.

After hearing the arguments of the parties, the court dismissed both the petitions of the PTI founder.