In the GHQ attack case, Shibli Faraz and Murad Saeed are among 47 individuals condemned to ten years of imprisonment.
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi sentenced 47 proclaimed offenders, including leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to 10 years in prison on Saturday for their involvement in the May 9 GHQ attack case.
ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah rendered the verdict, imposing fines of Rs 500,000 on each guilty and mandating the confiscation of their possessions.
Individuals sentenced encompass notable personalities such Omar Ayub, Zartaj Gul, Murad Saeed, Shibli Faraz, Hammad Azhar, Kanwal Shauzab, and Rashid Shafiq.
Additional convicted are Shahbaz Gill, Zulfi Bukhari, Muhammad Ahmad Chatha, Rai Hassan Nawaz, and Rai Muhammad Murtaza.
Other convicts sentenced to imprisonment and fines include Shaukat Ali Bhatti, Usman Saeed Basra, and Ijaz Khan Jazi.
The court’s ruling indicated that the condemned persons were implicated in assaults on the GHQ gate, Hamza Camp, and the Army Museum. The JIT investigation named the suspects as the principal perpetrators involved in orchestrating violent protests.
The verdict states that the suspects are charged with arson, vandalism, assaulting law enforcement, and damaging government property on May 9. In December 2024, charges were filed against 118 defendants, including PTI founder Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
The anti-terrorism court observed that, to yet, the statements of 44 prosecution witnesses have been documented. Of the 118 defendants, 18 were perpetually absent throughout the trial, and 29 failed to appear in court following the initiation of the case.
The court said that a distinct trial was held under the Anti-Terrorism Act for 47 declared criminals.
On January 6 of this year, the prosecution submitted a motion for action against the declared offenders. In response to the prosecution’s request, an inquiry was established, and on January 8, a notice was issued for the 47 absconding defendants.
The court granted the proclaimed offenders a seven-day period to surrender to the court. Notwithstanding court mandates and the provided notification, no defendants were present.
The court designated a state counsel for the declared offenders and established charges against them. Throughout the hearings, the prosecution documented testimonies from 19 witnesses, and the state counsel conducted cross-examinations of the prosecution’s witnesses.
Upon the conclusion of the trial involving the 47 declared offenders, the court rendered its sentence, sentencing each convict to 10 years of imprisonment, levying fines of Rs 500,000 per individual, and mandating the confiscation of their assets.