RAWALPINDI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has imposed a travel ban on all individuals accused in the GHQ attack case, barring them from leaving the country.
The ATC has formally directed the Director General of Immigration to ensure compliance with this restriction, citing Section 28-A of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), which mandates travel bans to secure the presence of accused individuals during legal proceedings.
The case involves 120 individuals currently under trial, with 23 declared absconders, including prominent figures like Shahbaz Gill, Murad Saeed, Hamad Azhar, and Zulfi Bukhari. Permanent arrest warrants have been issued for the absconders.
Earlier, on November 16, the court postponed the indictment of PTI leaders and workers for the third time in connection with the May 9, 2023, attack on the General Headquarters following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.
During the hearing, the prosecution distributed supplementary charge sheets among the accused, which included senior politicians such as Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Sheikh Rashid, and Omar Ayub. However, some defense counsels raised objections, claiming new charges were added without evidence.
The prosecution also highlighted that 102 of the 125 accused had yet to submit their counsels’ power of attorney. Consequently, the prosecutor requested the court to appoint state counsels for those accused.
Imran Khan, detained at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail for over a year, was absent in court due to security concerns but had his attendance marked. Shah Mahmood Qureshi, held in Lahore, was transported to Rawalpindi for the hearing. Applications for exemption from appearance were approved for several other accused, including Ali Amin Gandapur, Shibli Faraz, Shireen Mazari, and Zartaj Gul.
This travel restriction underscores the court’s commitment to ensuring all accused remain available for the ongoing legal proceedings.
