ISLAMABAD, (TDI): A Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court (ATC) indicted former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday, accusing him of inciting his supporters to attack Pakistan’s military and key installations in May 2023.
Khan, who remains in custody, faces charges linked to the violent protests that erupted following his arrest on corruption charges.
The court session, held at the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi and overseen by Judge Amjad Ali Shah, also indicted 60 other suspects, including senior PTI figures like Omar Ayub Khan. All the accused pleaded not guilty as the judge delivered the verdict.
Among those indicted were prominent political leaders, including Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the head of the Awami Muslim League, his nephew Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, PTI members Raja Basharat, Zartaj Gul, and Ahmed Chattah.
Following the hearing, Raja Basharat was arrested near the jail premises, and opposition leader Omar Ayub was taken into custody and moved to the Adiala Police Post. Another arrest included Azeemuddin, a staff member of PTI founder Imran Khan.
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The charges stem from the events of May 9, when thousands of Khan’s supporters took to the streets to protest his arrest on graft allegations.
The protests turned violent, with demonstrators attacking military buildings and other government properties.
At least eight people were killed in the unrest, which resulted in significant property damage and widespread chaos.
The violence prompted a nationwide crackdown, with more than 4,000 of Khan’s supporters detained.
Human Rights Watch reported that the arrests were part of an extensive effort by the authorities to quell the unrest.
In another development, an Islamabad anti-terrorism court earlier sentenced 10 individuals to prison terms of up to six years for their involvement in the May 9 events.
The verdict marked the first legal action related to the protests.
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The convicted individuals included four Afghan nationals, as well as Pakistanis from Islamabad, Bajaur, and Rawalpindi.
The situation surrounding Imran Khan’s arrest and the subsequent protests has drawn significant attention both within Pakistan and internationally, raising concerns over the country’s political stability and the state of civil liberties.
