May 9 GHQ attack case: 47 proclaimed offenders sentenced to 10 years each

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has sentenced 47 proclaimed offenders in the May 9 GHQ attack case to 10 years in prison each and imposed a fine of Rs500,000 on each convict.

The court also ordered the confiscation of all properties belonging to the convicts.

ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah announced the verdict. Special Prosecutor Zaheer Shah represented the prosecution.

According to the verdict, the convicts were found involved in the conspiracy behind the May 9 incidents. A joint investigation team (JIT) report had also declared them involved in planning the violent protests.

The convicts were found involved in attacks on the GHQ gate, Hamza Camp, Army Museum and Sixth Road Metro Station, according to the verdict. The JIT had described the convicts as key suspects involved in planning the May 9 violence.

The accused were charged with rioting, arson, vandalism, attacks on police and damage to public property during the May 9 incidents.

Those sentenced include Omar Ayub, Zartaj Gul, Murad Saeed, Shibli Faraz, Hammad Azhar, Kanwal Shauzab, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, Shahbaz Gill, Zulfi Bukhari, Muhammad Ahmad Chattha, Rai Hassan Nawaz, Rai Muhammad Murtaza, Shaukat Ali Bhatti, Usman Saeed Basra and Ejaz Khan Jazi.

A total of 118 accused, including PTI founder Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, were indicted in the case in December 2024. So far, statements of 44 prosecution witnesses have been recorded.

Of the 118 accused, 18 remained continuously absent from the trial, while 29 never appeared before the court after registration of the case.

A separate trial of the 47 proclaimed offenders was conducted under Section 21-L of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

On January 6 this year, the prosecution filed an application under Sections 19/10 seeking proceedings against the accused who had been declared proclaimed offenders. The court subsequently ordered an inquiry.

The judicial inquiry declared all 47 accused deliberate absconders. Based on the inquiry report, the court ordered publication of notices in newspapers.

The notices were published on January 8, giving the 47 absconders seven days to surrender before the court. However, none of them appeared despite the court orders and publication of the notices.

The court appointed a state counsel for the proclaimed offenders and framed charges against them. The prosecution recorded statements of 19 witnesses, while the state counsel cross-examined the prosecution witnesses.

After completion of the trial of the 47 proclaimed offenders, the court announced its verdict.