Rawalpindi:
The Interior Department of Punjab withdrew its previous notification to carry out the Judgment of GHQ attack cases within the Adiala prison and now directed that the procedures would be carried out through a video link, a movement rejected by the Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI).
During the hearing of the cases, Ikram Amen Minhas and Zaheer Shah prosecutors presented the video link notification in the court. In that special judge of the Anti -Terror Court (ATC), Amjad Ali Shah announced that the case would be heard three times a week.
The court summoned three witnesses and instructed the prison superintendent to guarantee arrangements for video links. The ATC judge postponed the hearing of a GHQ attack case until September 19 and postponed hearings in another 11 related cases until October 1.
The distribution of the copies of the Challans among the defendants, who have not yet received them, would continue while accusations are expected at the next audience. Notes were issued to the Bazaar Police Station.
Notes were also issued to the research team for the production of three witnesses of prosecution. The court also issued a summons for all the defendants to appear on October 1, including KP Prime Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who will be represented by his declarant.
The prison trial in these cases remained suspended for three months before the new agreement was made. Of the 119 witnesses in GHQ attack cases, statements of 27 have already been recorded.
The former Interior Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Sadqat Abbasi and other defendants were present in the Court, while Umar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Sartaj Gul and Kanwal Shauzab did not appear despite the outstanding orders for their arrest.
The court indicated that the Faisalabad courts had granted sentences previously and issued arrest orders for 14 defendants who, according to police reports, are deliberately fugged. Procedures have been initiated to declare them to proclaimed criminals.
In statements to the media after the hearing, Aleema Khan, sister of the founder of PTI, Imran Khan, together with the defense lawyer, strongly opposed the video link test, describing it unconstitutionally, illegally and a violation of the right to just trial.
They announced their intention to challenge the notification of the Department of Interior of Punjab before the Rawalpindi Bank of the Superior Court of Lahore (LHC). Aleem Khan said that the government was trying to isolate Imran Khan forcing video links.
“This is an attempt to silence it. It should be produced in the Court; video link procedures cannot be accepted,” he said, arguing that the measure would prevent imran from consulting with his lawyers.
When describing the new notification as a political step linked to the 26th constitutional amendment, he warned that while Imran Khan was being attacked today, others could face the same treatment tomorrow.
Aleem said that the founder of PTI had given a message that said he would not bow under pressure and would never accept “slavery.” She cited Imran saying that the rule of law and democracy have been strangled.
According to Aleema Khan, Imran warned that the current trajectory in Pakistan looked like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. He added that PTI had sought dialogue at each stage, but the party workers were being sentenced for what he called false testimonies.
Aleem added that Imran Khan warned leadership against political complacency and emphasized that it was time to play the role of the appropriate opposition. Imran urged supporters to demonstrate strength in the planned demonstration of the party on September 27, he said.
The legal team of PTI, Faisal Mehmood Malik and Hanain Sanbal, echoed this position, calling the video link “the death of fair trial.” They told reporters outside the ATC that the order of the Department of Origin was of bad faith and without legal basis.
“A fair trial requires that the accused be physically present in the Court to consult with the lawyer,” they added, confirming that the decision would be challenged in the Superior Court.
In a related development, the audience of the Toshakhana-II case against Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, which he scheduled within the Adiala prison was canceled. The defense was informed of the cancellation, and a new date will be established in the judicial complex.
