ATC rejects pleas in GHQ gate case; defense stages boycott

An Anti-Terrorism Court in Rawalpindi dismissed multiple applications by PTI founder Imran Khan’s legal team in the GHQ gate attack case, declining requests to halt the proceedings pending a high court decision on transferring the jail trial and to provide CCTV footage of the September 19 hearing. Presiding Judge Amjad Ali Shah remarked that proceedings cannot be stayed without clear orders from the high court.

Defense counsel Salman Akram Raja objected to the production of a detainee via WhatsApp video call, terming it unconstitutional. The judge said such objections should be taken before the high court. Imran Khan briefly appeared on the call during the hearing, but the defense team later boycotted, citing poor audio quality.

Despite the boycott, the court recorded statements of eight additional prosecution witnesses and summoned three more to testify at the next hearing on September 27. Prosecutors argued the defense was attempting to delay the trial and waste the court’s time. The court reiterated that proceedings would continue unless a superior forum ordered otherwise.