GHQ Attack Case: 47 Absconders Including Omar Ayub, Murad Saeed and Zulfi Bukhari Sentenced to 10 Years Each

Rawalpindi: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Saturday announced its verdict in the May 9 GHQ attack case, sentencing 47 proclaimed offenders to 10 years imprisonment each along with a fine of Rs500,000 each. The court also ordered the confiscation of their properties.
ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah issued the verdict. Those convicted include senior PTI leaders Omar Ayub, Zartaj Gul, Murad Saeed, Shibli Faraz, Hammad Azhar, Kanwal Shauzab, 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, among others.
The court ruled that the convicted individuals were found involved in attacks on the GHQ gate, Hamza Camp, and the Army Museum. The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report identified them as key figures in planning the violent protests. They faced charges of arson, vandalism, attacks on police personnel, and damage to state property on May 9.
Chargesheet had been filed in December 2024 against 118 accused, including PTI founder Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi. During the trial, statements of 44 prosecution witnesses were recorded. Of 118 accused, 18 remained continuously absent during proceedings, while 29 never appeared in court at all following registration of the case.
The 47 absconders were tried separately under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The prosecution filed a petition on January 6 seeking action against the absconders, following which the court initiated an inquiry and issued public notices for 47 fugitives on January 8. Despite being given seven days to surrender, not a single accused appeared before the court.