5th witness testifies in Toshakhana-II case

RAWALPINDI: The fifth witness recorded statement in the Toshakhana-II case against PTI founder Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi during a court hearing held here at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on Wednesday.

Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjmand conducted the hearing, where the prosecution’s fifth witness, Talat Mehmood, testified. A total of five witnesses have now testified in the case, and the cross-examination of three witnesses has been completed. However, the cross-examination of witness Binyamin could not be completed.

Imran Khan’s lawyer Salman Safdar requested that the cross-examination take place on Friday, which was objected to by FIA special public prosecutors. The prosecution stated that Imran’s lawyer Faisal Mufti and Bushra’s lawyer Arshad Tabrez were present in the court, and the cross-examination of the witnesses be completed. The prosecution also mentioned that two more witnesses, NAB officers Qaiser Mehmood and Shafqat, would testify at the next hearing.

Following this, the judge adjourned the hearing until Friday (January 10).

Meanwhile, the Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana has adjourned the hearing on the request for time to submit the reply by NAB in the petitions against the seizure of properties of declared accused in the 190 million pound reference.

During the hearing, Advocate Farooq H. Naik appeared in the court on behalf of the petitioners. NAB sought time to submit the reply, on which the court adjourned the hearing of the case till January 15.

The verdict against PTI founder and Bushra Bibi in the Al-Qadir Trust case is reserved. The court had declared Zulfi Bukhari and others as declared accused in the case and ordered the seizure of their properties.

Meanwhile, a special anti-terrorism court has indicted Shaheer Sikandar, another accused in the General Headquarters (GHQ) attack case.

The hearing at Adiala jail was presided over by Judge Amjad Ali Shah. The PTI chairman, who is also an accused in the case, was present, and the attendance of all accused was duly recorded.

During the proceedings, the defence counsel submitted three applications. Omar Ayub requested access to the case records, while Ajmal Sabir and Malik Ansar filed pleas for acquittal.

The court instructed the defence to present arguments on these applications during the next hearing, scheduled for January 13.

This marks the conclusion of the indictment process, with charges now framed against all 119 accused in the GHQ attack case. Shaheer Sikandar’s indictment follows the earlier charging of 118 other accused.