Pronouncing a verdict in the GHQ attack case, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Saturday sentenced 47 PTI leaders, who had been declared proclaimed offenders (POs), to 10 years imprisonment each besides slapping Rs500,000 fine on each of them, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The court also ordered the confiscation of the properties of the convicts.
Those who were awarded prison terms included Omar Ayub Khan, Zartaj Gul, Murad Saeed, Shibli Faraz, Hammad Azhar, Kanwal Shauzab, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, Shehbaz Gil, Zulfi Bukhari, Muhammad Ahmad Chattha, Rai Hassan Nawaz and Rai Muhammad Murtaza.
Thousands of people had taken to streets on May 9, 2023 immediately after hearing the news about the arrest of their leader, PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.
They vandalized government and military installations, and in some cases set them on fire.
They also damaged the memorials of martyrs of the Pakistan Army.
In its verdict, the court stated that the convicts were found involved in attacks on the GHQ gate, Hamza Camp, and the Army Museum.
The prosecution had filed a request for action against the proclaimed offenders on January 6 of this year.
Following the prosecution’s request, an inquiry committee was formed, and on January 8, a notice was issued to the 47 absconders.
The court allowed the POs seven days to surrender before the court.
Despite court orders and the issued notice, no accused appeared.
The court appointed a state counsel for the POs and framed charges against them.
During the proceedings, the prosecution recorded statements of 19 witnesses, and the state counsel cross-examined the prosecution’s witnesses.
After the trial, the court announced its verdict today.
Reporter: Ershad Qureshi