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Wednesday January 22, 2025

Sheikh Rasheed’s plea for acquittal in GHQ attack case rejected

Petition contests ATC’s earlier rejection of Sheikh Rasheed’s application for acquittal

By Khalid Iqbal
December 11, 2024
Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed speaks to the media in Islamabad. — AFP/File
Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed speaks to the media in Islamabad. — AFP/File

RAWALPINDI: The Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench, on Tuesday dismissed Sheikh Rasheed’s plea for acquittal in a petition challenging the anti-terrorism court’s decision in the GHQ attack case.

The petition contested the ATC’s earlier rejection of Sheikh Rasheed’s application for acquittal.

The case was heard by a division bench of the LHC’s Rawalpindi Bench comprising Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf and Justice Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar.

Sheikh Rasheed’s lawyers Sardar Abdul Raziq and Sardar Shahbaz argued that the prosecution lacked evidence or witnesses against their client. They contended that Sheikh Rasheed had been implicated based on the confessional statement of another accused and that his alleged involvement was limited to attending an online meeting via Zoom.

Last week, the ATC had indicted the accused in the GHQ Gate attack case. Sheikh Rasheed had subsequently filed a petition in the LHC seeking acquittal, which the court has now rejected.