GHQ attack case: Cop names Gandapur, Afridi for incitement in testimony

RAWALPINDI: Testifying before an Anti-Terrorism Court hearing May 9 GHQ attack case, a police sub-inspector stated that the accused had confessed to attacking the GHQ on the instigation of Ali Amin Gandapur and others.

Judge Amjad Ali Shah conducted hearing inside Adiala Jail on Wednesday. Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan was brought to the court, where Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Fawad Chaudhry, Kanwal Shauzab, and dozens of other accused were also present.

During the hearing, statements of two witnesses were recorded. Magistrate Mahmood Alam, who had identified the accused at Attock Jail, submitted 350-page report of the identification parade to the court.

During the hearing, Rawalpindi Police Sub-Inspector (SI) Ahmad Yar’s statement was recorded. He stated that the arrested accused had confessed to attacking the GHQ on the orders of Shehryar Afridi and Ali Amin Gandapur. The arrested accused revealed that both the PTI leaders had provoked and incited them to go to the GHQ, the SI stated.

SI Ahmad Yar added that on May 9, 2023, Gandapur and Afridi led the protesters from Faizabad toward the GHQ, adding the accused had listened to the provocative speeches of the party leaders on their mobile phones.

Mobile phones, petrol bombs, sticks, burnt tyres, and their ashes recovered from the accused were presented as evidence in the court. SI Ahmad Yar also submitted 38 recovery memos during his testimony.

The court then adjourned the hearing of the May 9 GHQ attack case until February 15, when the complainant in the case, Sub Inspector Riaz, will appear in court as a witness. A total of 17 witnesses have testified in the case so far.