Zain Qureshi and 3 Others Indicted in GHQ Attack Case

Islamabad: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) resumed proceedings in the high-profile GHQ gate attack case at Adiala Jail, where notable developments unfolded, including new indictments and further discussions over procedural issues.

During Saturday’s hearing, three additional suspects, Zain Qureshi, Raja Nasir Mahfooz, and Raja Shahbaz, were formally indicted, bringing the total number of accused in the case to 116. Prior to this, 113 suspects had already been charged. The case centers around the attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ) gate, which has sparked significant legal and political attention.

Prosecutor Zaheer Shah urged the court to take action against three absconding suspects—Muhammad Asim, Bilal Ijaz, and Shaheer Sikandar. He called for the blocking of their identity cards and requested that the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) chairman be contacted to initiate the process. It was revealed that one of the absconders, Muhammad Asim, had been residing in Saudi Arabia since November, raising questions about his international travel despite court orders barring him from leaving the country. Shah asked the Director-General of Passport and Immigration to explain how Asim was able to leave the country.

In a separate matter, the court also discussed a petition filed by PTI leader Imran Khan and former minister Fawad Chaudhry, who sought access to CCTV footage from the court proceedings on December 5. Both the defense and prosecution lawyers, including Faisal Chaudhry, Faisal Malik, and Muhammad Ali Bukhari, presented their arguments. Prosecutor Zaheer Shah informed the court that the jail falls under the jurisdiction of the Punjab Home Department and advised the petitioners to approach the department directly or file a writ petition in the Lahore High Court if their request for the footage was denied. The court has reserved its decision on this petition, which will be announced on December 24.

Read More: Another Rangers Official Dies from Injuries Sustained During PTI Protests

Additionally, suspect Raja Shahbaz filed a petition challenging the sufficiency of evidence supporting his indictment. Both sides presented their arguments, and the court reserved its decision on the matter.

The hearing was adjourned until December 24, when the court is expected to rule on the pending petitions and other key decisions in the case. The proceedings have attracted significant public and political interest as the legal battle continues.