Wazirabad firing incident: Why Imran didn’t testify against those he accused

ISLAMABAD: The trial of the Wazirabad firing incident — an assassination attempt on former prime minister Imran Khan — concluded without the testimony of its most crucial witness: Khan himself.

His absence from the witness stand has sparked widespread speculation, especially given his public accusations against top government and military officials for orchestrating the attack.

Muhammad Naveed, the main accused in the case, was sentenced on April 26 by an anti-terrorism court in Gujranwala to two life terms for the murder of PTI supporter Moazzam Gondal and for injuring many others during the November 3, 2022, attack. Notably, while Khan sustained gunshot wounds, Naveed was not convicted for directly harming the former premier.

A detailed judgment issued by the court sheds light on Khan’s consistent refusal to record his statement, despite repeated efforts by the prosecution. The court noted that the trial was prolonged primarily due to Khan’s reluctance to testify. He was summoned multiple times and offered the option to appear via video link, but the court record shows that each time, Khan cited the unavailability of his legal counsel as the reason for his non-participation.

“In this regard, letters and applications of the prosecution are on record,” the judgment states. “But the said witness [Imran Khan] demonstrated reluctance, unwillingness, and deliberate avoidance in recording his statement before this court.”

The judgment further notes that despite “all hectic efforts” and repeated requests from the prosecution for the court to adopt coercive measures, Khan’s statement could not be procured. Ultimately, the court declared him a “given-up witness,” closing the prosecution’s case without his testimony.

The court criticised Khan’s conduct, stating: “The trial of this high-profile case lingered due to the demeanor of the last prosecution witness, namely Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, which has been placed on the record.”

The incident occurred during a PTI rally in Wazirabad, where Khan was shot in the leg. In its aftermath, Khan publicly accused then-prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, former interior minister Rana Sanaullah, and senior military officer Maj Gen Faisal Naseer of plotting to assassinate him. He claimed to have recorded a video naming them, to be released in the event of his death.

While Naveed was convicted of terrorism and murder, two co-accused — Tayyab Jahangir Butt and Waqas — were acquitted due to lack of evidence. Alongside the life sentences, Naveed received additional prison terms ranging from three to five years for injuring four other individuals and was fined Rs500,000.