RAWALPINDI: The Special Anti-Terrorism Court in Rawalpindi on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of the GHQ attack case against former PTI chairman Imran Khan, former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and others until April 7 without taking any action.
The court sought a response from the prosecution on a request for immediate meeting of lawyers with the former PTI chairman in jail. Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rashid and other accused appeared in the court which allowed them to leave after appearing. Imran’s lawyer Faisal Malik took the stand in an application filed to meet the former chairman in Adiala Jail that his lawyers have not met the him for several months, while Faisal Malik, Barrister Salman Akram Raja, Barrister Salman Safdar and Naeem Haider Panjotha are his lawyers, so it is necessary to meet their client for a legal opinion in the GHQ attack case, so he should be allowed to meet Imran immediately.
The court, after hearing the initial arguments of the defence counsel, sought arguments from the prosecution. The court extended the bail application of Bushra Bibi in 29 cases registered against the PTI’s November 26 protest, until April 9. The court issued orders to ensure the presence of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi’s lawyers during investigation. Bushra Bibi’s lawyer Faisal Malik pleaded with the court to investigate her in all the cases and took the position that police have not yet investigated Bushra in any case. The court extended Bushra Bibi’s bail and adjourned the hearing until April 9.
Later, PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja said that although the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has announced a movement for the release of the former PTI chairman, the aim of the movement is not that “we will come to a specific square, but rather the movement is a comprehensive process”.
He said it is too early to say anything about the situation in the Middle East. “We ourselves do not know what the real situation is.” Speaking to media at Gorakhpur, he said the party founder and family were not contacted regarding the third injection in the eye of Imran. He was secretly shifted to hospital at night without informing anyone. “Our position is clear that until the family and personal physician are given access, no method is acceptable to us. Until the people are allowed to meet their popular leader, peace is difficult.”
He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has announced a movement for the release of Imran. In this regard, the former chairman has given all the authority to Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas. “We want to take all matters forward with the opportunity. We have no hope from courts, but we are the pioneers of the restoration of the judiciary. It is the duty of the entire nation to restore their rights. We are a peaceful party and will get our rights through peaceful protest. The prime minister did not meet the opposition leader, although there were many opportunities. The Form 47 government wants the hypocrisy to continue. We stand against the government’s approach. Protest is the name of raising our voice. We will continue to raise our voice.”
