Court sets 16th for indictment in GHQ attack case

RAWALPINDI: Judge Amjad Ali Shah of the Special Anti-Terrorism Court has set November 16 as the date for the indictment in the GHQ attack case, following the absence of all accused, including the former PTI chairman and the former foreign minister, on Friday.

The court, after distributing copies of the case documents to most of the remaining accused, adjourned the hearing and reserved its decision on the acquittal application filed by Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed. This decision is expected to be announced at a later date. Additionally, the jail administration submitted a report on the former chairman’s telephone contact with his sons, as ordered by the court.

During the hearing, federal and provincial ministers, as well as members of the assembly—including Omar Ayub, Zartaj Gul, Raja Basharat, Shibli Faraz, Sadaqat Abbasi, Raja Rashid Hafeez, Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, and Colonel (retd) Ajmal Sabir—were scheduled to be indicted.

Since the former PTI chairman, the main accused in the case, is currently in jail, the hearing was to be held at Adiala Jail. However, proceedings in the jail could not take place on Friday. After confirming the presence of the accused, the court provided copies to those who had not yet received them and adjourned the hearing until November 16.

The lawyer argued that Sheikh Rasheed was named six months later. The police challan includes statements from 94 witnesses, none of whom accused Sheikh Rasheed of involvement. Reports from the IG Punjab and the RPO Rawalpindi have also been submitted to the high court.

The defence claimed that Sheikh Rasheed was implicated without evidence. His lawyer requested that he be acquitted of the case. The court reserved its decision.