Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former prime minister, already incarcerated in Adiala Jail for multiple cases, was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the GHQ attack case related to the May 9 violent protests.
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi summoned Khan in relation to the GHQ attack case, along with two other cases linked to the arson at a metro station and incitement of violence on May 9, 2023.
Khan, currently in Adiala jail for cipher and graft cases, attended the court proceedings via video link due to security concerns preventing his physical presence.
During the hearing, officials from RA Bazar police station requested Imran Khan’s physical remand for the May 9 cases. However, ATC judge Malik Aijaz Asif denied the request and instructed the police to interrogate Khan in jail.
The judge issued notices to the prosecution and defense lawyers to present their arguments and evidence during the next hearing scheduled for January 23, 2024.
Earlier, the federal government established a cabinet committee to investigate the May 9 incidents. The caretaker federal law and justice minister will serve as the committee’s convener, with other members including ministers of interior, information, and human rights.
The committee’s terms of reference mandate an examination of events leading up to the incidents on May 9, 2023, to identify masterminds, planners, facilitators, and executors. It will also analyze causes, determine responsibility, and evaluate immediate and long-term implications.
Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9, 2023, from the premises of the Islamabad High Court, where he was attending a corruption case hearing, triggered widespread protests and riots.
Accused of receiving illegal gifts and assets from foreign countries during his tenure as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, Khan’s supporters demanded his release, leading to attacks on civil and military installations, including GHQ in Rawalpindi, Jinnah House in Lahore, Mianwali airbase, and others.
More than 5,000 people were arrested and charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), with the government alleging Khan’s mastermind role in the attacks and providing evidence of his involvement.
