By ABDULLAH 
Legal and political drama continued on Friday as an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi dismissed a plea filed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawyers demanding former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s physical appearance in the General Headquarters (GHQ) attack case. Instead, the court upheld the Punjab government’s decision that Imran will continue to attend trial proceedings via video link from Adiala Jail.
The hearing was marked by extraordinary security. Over 700 police personnel and more than 50 traffic wardens were deployed around the ATC. Roads leading to the commissioner’s office and the district council gate were sealed, with strict restrictions on parking and entry. Lawyers and journalists faced limitations, while carrying mobile phones or recording devices inside the courtroom was declared a punishable offence.
Tensions flared when Imran Khan briefly appeared via videolink but announced a boycott of the ATC trial, echoing the stance of his legal team. “Your decision is correct, I too will boycott,” Khan told his lawyers before the videolink was abruptly cut.
PTI’s counsel argued that conducting such a sensitive trial through video link sometimes even via WhatsApp connections was “unconstitutional” and violated Article 10-A of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair trial.
Advocate Faisal Malik told the court:
“How can there be a fair trial without the accused being present? The government itself is a party in this matter. A video trial is absolutely illegal.”
Other senior lawyers, including Salman Akram Raja, announced plans to challenge the notification in the Lahore High Court.
Prosecutors countered that the Code of Criminal Procedure amendments of 2016 allow courts to conduct trials via video link. They emphasized that three notices had been sent to Imran Khan for appearance but he refused to comply.
“The accused is a former prime minister, but the law cannot be rewritten for him. A fair trial model already exists. This case will not be hijacked,” said Prosecutor Naveed Malik.
During the session, two prosecution witnesses Sub-Inspector Saleem Qureshi and Sub-Inspector Manzoor Shehzad submitted 13 USB drives containing more than 40 video clips related to the May 9 riots. The digital evidence was collected from CCTV cameras installed on Benazir Bhutto Road, Mall Road, and Liaquat Bagh.
Clips allegedly featuring other PTI leaders, including Shehryar Afridi, Khadim Khokhar, Sadaqat Abbasi, Umar Tanveer, and Sikandar Mirza, were also presented. Newspaper clippings were added to strengthen the case.
The court has so far recorded the testimonies of 27 out of 119 witnesses, and summoned 10 more witnesses from PEMRA, FIA, PID, and the Ministry of Interior for the next hearing on September 23.
The GHQ attack case stems from the violent protests of May 9, 2023, which erupted after Imran Khan’s arrest. Demonstrators stormed military installations, torched state property, and chanted slogans targeting the army. The former PTI chief, along with several party leaders, faces 27 charges, including conspiracy, terrorism, and incitement.
Imran Khan was formally indicted on December 5, 2024, and has remained incarcerated in Adiala Jail since August 2023. He is simultaneously facing multiple cases, including the high-profile cipher case.
Outside the court, PTI leaders accused the government of isolating Imran Khan and silencing him through controlled videolink appearances. Former minister Fawad Chaudhry said:
“These are not normal proceedings. The courts fear pictures of Imran leaking to the public. They want him invisible.”
The government, however, insists the video link arrangement ensures both security and continuity of the trial. Officials have also argued that extraordinary measures are necessary given the violent aftermath of the May 9 protests.
The ATC has adjourned proceedings until September 23, 2025, when more witnesses will testify. Meanwhile, PTI’s legal team plans to challenge the video link notification in the Lahore High Court, potentially opening another front in this already politically charged case.
As the legal battle drags on, the question remains: Will Imran Khan ever be allowed to physically appear in court, or will the trial of Pakistan’s most controversial political figure continue behind a digital screen?