Imran Khan, a former premier and the head of the PTI, has been nominated in two terrorism cases, including the attack on the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, by a high-level joint investigative team (JIT) looking into episodes connected to the May 9 carnage.
PTI Chairman nominated in GHQ attack case: PTI head will be charged with plotting and inciting violence with the insertion of new provisions in the suits, and his arrest is also anticipated after that.
Following the arrest of the former premier by the paramilitary Rangers on the orders of National Accountability Bureau in a graft case from the Islamabad High Court premises on May 9, protesters allegedly affiliated with the PTI ransacked the government and military infrastructure, including the Lahore corps commanders residence, also known as Jinnah House.
According to sources, the JIT looking into the events of May 9 convened on July 4. Imran will be named as an accused party in two terrorism cases, including an attack on the GHQ for which a case has been filed at AR Bazaar Police Station, the huddle determined. In this situation, Raja Basharaat, a former home minister for Punjab, has previously been suggested.
The other riot-related case was filed at the New Town Police Station, where PTI employees were charged with attacking an intelligence agency building close to Faizabad. It chose to add the former premier to the list of suspects in this case as well.
According to sources, officers looking into the May 9 cases were also present at the JIT meeting. They were questioned about the latest developments with the investigation, arrests, challan preparation, and identification parade.
They mentioned that it was decided to add more terrorism sections in instances involving assaults on the GHQ and other army and security institutions.
Developments in PTI Chairman’s Nomination and Crackdown on Party Leaders after GHQ Attack
According to sources, once the PTI head has been designated in the two instances of the attack on the GHQ and the security installations, Rawalpindi Police will have the power to detain him in Lahore or Islamabad.
It was said that Imran will be named in the cases after hearing the previously detained accused and witnesses’ confessional statements, and that these admissions may be utilised as evidence against him in court.
According to sources, Shehryar Afridi, a former federal minister, was previously detained for allegedly taking part in the attack on GHQ.
The nomination of the PTI chairman in a Rawalpindi case will take place for the first time in this case.
Following the riots, the army designated May 9 as a “black day” and issued a threat to respond violently to any subsequent attacks on it, state institutions, or any law enforcement agency.
The erstwhile leaders of the ruling party were detained and then detained again after the government started a sweeping crackdown on the PTI leaders for their alleged role in the May 9 riots.
As a result, a number of PTI leaders left the organisation while others turned away from Imran.