ATC Rejects PTI Plea on Imran Khan’s Video Link Appearance in GHQ Attack Case
Rawalpindi, September 19, 2025 – An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Friday rejected a petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which had opposed the decision to make incarcerated party founder Imran Khan appear in trial proceedings of the General Headquarters (GHQ) attack case via video link.
Background of the Case
Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9, 2023, triggered nationwide violent protests, during which several state buildings and military installations — including GHQ — were vandalized and set ablaze. Following these events, Khan has been facing multiple cases while being incarcerated at Adiala Jail since August 2023. He was formally indicted in the GHQ attack case on December 5, 2024.
Court Proceedings
During Friday’s hearing, PTI’s legal team argued that a fair trial requires Imran Khan’s physical presence in court rather than attending via video link. Counsel Faisal Malik stated, “We demand a fair trial from the court, and that is conditional upon the accused being physically present.”
However, prosecutor Zaheer Shah countered the argument, noting that under the 2016 amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure, courts are legally allowed to conduct trials via video link. He further cited Sections 15 and 21 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, emphasizing that courts have the authority to make trial-related decisions without providing additional justifications.
Shah added that contesting Imran’s video link appearance amounted to delaying proceedings. He said the Punjab government’s executive order had already shifted trial proceedings from Adiala Jail to the ATC, and only the constitutional courts had the power to review that order.
Defence Response
The defence team insisted that they had only just received the provincial government’s notification and needed time to consult before approaching a higher court. The ATC judge, Amjad Ali Shah, adjourned the hearing briefly to allow the lawyers to deliberate.
Security Measures
Ahead of the hearing, Rawalpindi police confirmed that security had been tightened around the ATC premises to avoid any untoward incident.
Current Status
The PTI founder remains in Adiala Jail, where he was also arrested in January 2024 in connection with the May 9 protest case. His legal team has signaled their intent to challenge the notification in a higher court, keeping the political and legal battle ongoing.
