PTI founder Imran Khan’s lawyers boycotted the proceedings of an Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday after connectivity issues appeared to affect communication with the incarcerated former prime minister, who briefly joined the hearing via a WhatsApp call.
An ATC in Rawalpindi was hearing a case against Imran pertaining to an attack on an attack on the army’s General Headquarters GHQ) on May 9, 2023, when the PTI founder’s arrests had sparked violent protests across the country, during which state buildings and military installations were torched and vandalised.
At the hearing today, Imran was taken on a Whatsapp call, following the court’s dismissal of a plea for his in-person appearance last week.
His lawyers, Salman Akram Raja and Faisal Malik, sought Judge Amjad Ali Shah’s permission to talk to the ex-premier. But during the call, Imran’s voice was disrupted and his face appeared blurred on screen, leading his lawyers to boycott the court proceedings.
They stated that such a trial was “unfair”.
The court, however, recorded the statements of eight witnesses, including the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority additional director, Federal Investigation Agency’s technical assistant and Pakistan Information Department deputy director.
It later adjourned the hearing, summoning further witnesses on September 27.
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