Imran Khan Implicated In Six Cases, Including Anti-Terrorism Charges, For Attack On GHQ

The charges stem from the unprecedented attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the army in Rawalpindi, where supporters breached the gates, resulting in investigations into acts of violence targeting military installations and an arson attack.

Outlook Web Desk

Updated on: 6 July 2023 3:07 pm

Former Pakistan Imran Khan

Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan and leader of the Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has been implicated in six cases, three of which fall under the stringent Anti-Terrorism Act, in connection with the unprecedented assault on the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the army in Rawalpindi on May 9. The attack, dubbed a "Black Day" by the military, saw supporters of Khan breach the gates of the GHQ, leading to a series of investigations by joint investigation teams (JITs) into various incidents of violence, including the targeting of military installations and an arson attack at a metro station.

According to sources, three cases were registered against the 70-year-old Khan on May 9, while the remaining three were filed on May 10, all under the Anti-Terrorism Act. These developments add to the mounting legal challenges faced by Khan's party, following widespread unrest triggered by his dramatic arrest on corruption charges from the premises of the Islamabad High Court. Since his ousting in April the previous year, Khan has reportedly been entangled in nearly 150 cases across the country.

During the period of violence, PTI supporters also launched an attack on and caused damage to the Corps' Commander's House in Lahore, which was historically known as Jinnah House, once serving as the residence of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The incidents resulted in over 20 civil and military installations being targeted, leading to more than 10 fatalities. It is worth noting that Khan was in custody at the time of the violent outburst.

The cases against Khan were registered at various police stations, including Civil Lines in Faisalabad, Samanabad, RA Bazar, and New Town in Rawalpindi, City Police Station in Mianwali, and Police Station Cantt in Gujranwala. While Khan had not previously been implicated in any of the 28 cases in Rawalpindi, the decision to include his name was based on statements provided by suspects under investigation and in consultation with legal experts. The cases specifically relate to the attack on the GHQ and other military installations, which were registered at RA Bazar and New Town police stations.