RAWALPINDI: The Special Anti-Terrorism Court of Rawalpindi has adjourned the hearing of the GHQ attack case against 120 accused including former PTI chairman Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi till February 17, without taking any action.
Meanwhile, non-bailable arrest warrants have been issued for Aleema Khanum and her two sureties for their continued absence in the case registered at the Sadiqabad police station over the November 26 protest.
The court also issued a show-cause notice to the SP Rawal Division for non-implementation of previously-issued warrants. Aleema’s lawyer Faisal Malik and Special Prosecutor Zaheer Shah were present. The prosecution pointed out that despite the issuance of non-bailable arrest warrants, the accused did not appear in court even on Tuesday. The accused’s lawyer filed an application for exemption from appearance, stating that Aleema is in Lahore and cannot appear due to meetings in the Adiala Jail. To this, the prosecution said the total number of cases is 42. Hearings have been held. The accused has appeared in only 14 hearings and has been absent in 28 hearings. Thus, the accused is trying to disrupt the trial by not appearing in court.
The prosecution’s position was that the trial of the case has been going on for 120 days and the accused cannot proceed at the will of the court. After hearing arguments, the court dismissed Aleema’s request for exemption from attendance. Expressing anger over the non-compliance with arrest warrants, the court issued a show-cause notice to the SP Rawal and directed him to explain in court why the warrant was not complied with.
The court also issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Aleema’s two sureties and ordered the SHO of Sadiqabad police station to arrest the sureties and present them in court. The hearing was then adjourned till today (Wednesday).
Meanwhile, during the hearing of the GHQ attack case, former ministers and other accused including Shireen Mazari, who was named in the case, appeared in court, where the court ordered the attendance of the accused. The hearing was adjourned until February 17.
