Shah Mahmood Qureshi sent to Adiala jail, key PTI leaders charged in GHQ attack case
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, a senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former foreign minister, has been transferred to Adiala Jail as part of an ongoing investigation into the May 9 attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ). He is among several high-profile PTI figures facing formal charges in connection with the violent protests that erupted across Pakistan after PTI chairman Imran Khan’s arrest.
The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) conducted a significant hearing on Monday within Adiala Jail, presided over by Judge Amjad Ali Shah. Nine additional accused were formally charged in the GHQ attack case, including prominent political figures such as Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Colonel Ajmal Sabir Raja, and Sikandar Zeb.
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The court also addressed a prosecution plea to cancel bail for 23 accused individuals, including former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. The bail cancellation plea cites repeated absences and non-compliance by several accused. Notices have been issued in response, while the hearing on this matter has been adjourned to December 19.
During the proceedings, several defendants, including Qureshi, refused to sign the charge sheets. They argued that their application for the discharge of the case—likely under Section 265-K of the Criminal Procedure Code, which allows for acquittal if evidence is insufficient—should be heard first. The defendants have made it clear they will only sign the charge sheets after the court rules on their discharge applications.
PTI chairman Imran Khan was produced before the special court set up within Adiala Jail, underscoring the case’s high-profile nature. Alongside Qureshi, other notable political figures such as former Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Punjab’s ex-Law Minister Raja Basharat were also present during the hearings.
Qureshi’s legal team is preparing for his formal indictment, which is expected soon. Meanwhile, hearings for other related cases, including charges of vandalism and violence during the May 9 protests, have been deferred until January 2024.
Sunday’s proceedings included hearings on 13 of the 14 cases linked to the May 9 events. The court recorded the attendance of the accused but adjourned the cases until January 6, with additional hearings scheduled to follow. The violent protests on May 9, sparked by the arrest of Imran Khan, remain a watershed moment in Pakistan’s political history, with investigations targeting high-ranking PTI officials and supporters.
The next key hearing in the GHQ attack case is scheduled for December 19. Additional cases related to the May 9 violence, involving charges of vandalism and other offenses, will resume in January 2024.
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