An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday formally indicted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Rauf Hassan and Ahmed Waqas Janjua in a high-profile terrorism case.
The hearing was conducted by ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sapra. Rauf Hassan, along with Advocate Ayesha Khalid, appeared in court. Both accused pleaded not guilty and stated their intention to contest the terrorism case.
The court adjourned proceedings until February 23, 2026, and summoned prosecution witnesses for the next session. Officials said the evidence would focus on the alleged links of the accused with terrorist networks.
In a related development, a district and sessions court in Islamabad issued perpetual arrest warrants for PTI leaders Ali Amin Gandapur and Omar Ayub Khan. This action is connected to two Azadi March cases and is separate from the ongoing terrorism case.
Judicial Magistrate Mubashir Hassan Chishti declared both Gandapur and Ayub as proclaimed offenders after they repeatedly failed to appear in court despite multiple summons. The court emphasized strict adherence to legal procedures in politically sensitive cases.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of Pakistan rejected a petition requesting permission for an immediate meeting with PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The bench, led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, heard 13 petitions concerning Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi.
The SC observed that such an order could not be passed without notifying the government first. Chief Justice Afridi added that the petition must overcome objections regarding maintainability before any relief could be granted. A notice was subsequently issued to the government to respond on Tuesday.
The proceedings reflect ongoing legal scrutiny of PTI leaders amid multiple political and judicial cases, including the serious terrorism case, highlighting the intensifying legal and political environment in Pakistan.
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