RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan is set to be indicted in the May 9 riots case on November 25.
The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi fixed the indictment date after hearing arguments during a recent session. The former Prime Minister was presented before the court, where he was also provided additional copies of the challan.
However, Khan’s lawyers raised objections, alleging that the additional documents were tampered with and were not part of the original challan.
So far, the prosecution has submitted 11 challans in the case, while 120 accused individuals have been provided with copies. The court declared 23 accused, including Shehbaz Gill, Murad Saeed, and Zulfi Bukhari, as absconders, ordering the confiscation of their properties. Additionally, the court directed the Director-General of Immigration to impose travel restrictions on the absconding individuals.
The hearing of the case has been adjourned until November 25, the day the court will formally indict the PTI leader.
Earlier, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore had granted bail to Imran Khan in four May 9-related cases. ATC Judge Arshad Javed while presiding over the hearings and had approved the bail pleas filed by the former Prime Minister.
The court, however, disposed of a plea by Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, seeking additional time for arguments. The judge stated that sufficient time had been given for arguments, which were not presented within the deadline.
The Punjab Prosecutor General accused Khan of inciting his supporters to attack military installations in the event of his arrest. Despite these allegations, the court had accepted Khan’s bail in four cases, including the burning of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) office, with a bond set at Rs550,000.
Khan had also moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the transfer of May 9 cases to military courts. Filed through his lawyer, Aziz Karamat Bhandari, Khan’s petition named the Secretary of Law, Secretary of Home, IG Islamabad, IG Punjab, IG Jails, DG FIA, and the federal government as respondents.
The petition argued that the transfer of civilian cases to military courts is unjustified. In response, IHC Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb ordered the government to clarify its position, granting additional time for the Ministry of Defence to submit its stance.
The debate over military trials for civilians arose after the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government initiated such proceedings for individuals involved in the May 9 riots. However, the Supreme Court declared military trials for civilians unconstitutional in an October 2023 ruling, later suspended in December by a 5:1 majority.
The May 9 unrest erupted following Imran Khan’s arrest in a corruption case. The riots led to the vandalism of multiple military and state properties, including the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence. The government alleges that PTI leadership orchestrated these attacks as part of a premeditated plan.
PTI has repeatedly denied the allegations, with party officials asserting that Khan only called for peaceful protests. Lawyers representing Khan have refuted claims that he incited violence, dismissing media reports attributing inflammatory comments to him. Senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser, speaking on a private television program, emphasized that Khan did not issue any directives to target military installations.
Intezar Panjutha, another lawyer for Khan, stated during a press conference that reports suggesting Khan admitted to calling for protests outside the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi are false. Panjutha confirmed that he was present during Khan’s conversations with journalists at Adiala Jail and that the attributed statements were fabricated.
Imran Khan faces 12 ongoing cases related to the May 9 riots. These cases, filed at police stations across Lahore, include Sarwar Road, Gulberg, Race Course, Shadman, Mughalpura, and Model Town. The government alleges these incidents were part of an “organized” effort to target state and military institutions.
The November 25 indictment is expected to be a pivotal moment in the high-profile case. It comes amid heightened political tensions, with PTI accusing the government of using legal means to suppress its leadership.
The former Prime Minister’s legal battles have drawn international attention, especially regarding the constitutionality of military trials for civilians. As the case progresses, it is expected to set significant legal precedents while further influencing Pakistan’s political landscape.
