An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has rejected former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s request for acquittal in the May 9 General Headquarters (GHQ) attack case. The court delivered its decision on Monday after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defense.
The prosecution opposed the acquittal plea, arguing that the trial was already in progress, with testimonies from 12 witnesses recorded so far. They asserted that given the ongoing trial, the plea for acquittal was premature and should not be entertained at this stage. After considering these points, the court dismissed Imran Khan’s request.
In previous hearings, the defense team had requested the consolidation of all 13 cases related to the May 9 incident, stating that the charges stemmed from the same conspiracy. Additionally, they sought permission for Imran Khan’s family to attend the trial. While the court agreed to allow the general request for family attendance, it did not approve the presence of Bushra Bibi, Imran Khan’s wife, due to her conviction in a separate case.
The prosecution also opposed the defense’s plea to merge the cases, while the defense maintained that all charges should be addressed under a single charge. The court is expected to deliberate on these matters in upcoming hearings, with the legal proceedings likely to continue for some time.
This ruling represents a significant development in the legal challenges faced by Imran Khan, as he battles multiple charges following the May 9 violence. His legal team is expected to explore further avenues as the case unfolds in the coming weeks.
