• PTI founder also seek provision of CCTV footage of case hearing.
• Not want to be part of hearing sans consultation with Khan: lawyer.
• Defence wants to waste time, not serious about trial: prosecutor.

RAWALPINDI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Tuesday rejected Pakistan Tehreeke-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s plea seeking the halt of court proceedings in May 9 case involving attack on General Headquarters (GHQ).

ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah conducted the hearing today over two petitions filed by Khan, urging the court to provide the CCTV footage of the court proceedings on September 19 and stopping the proceedings till the high court’s order on the transfer of the jail trial.

During the hearing, where Khan was presented virtually before the court via WhatsApp link, the PTI founder’s lawyer Faisal Malik contended that they did not want to become part of the case proceedings sans consultation with the former prime minister.

To this, the court said: “During the last hearing, you consulted with the PTI founder who [then] boycotted the proceedings”.

When advised by the court to challenge the WhatsApp communication in the high court, counsel Malik said that they had already done so.

“[A] WhatsApp call cannot be considered as [attendance] via a video link,” the lawyer said while requesting the court for more time to challenge the court’s previous order.

“You can challenge it [however] the court proceedings cannot be stopped,” the court responded.

Highlighting that the defence lawyers boycotted the previous hearing, prosecutor Ikram Amin said that the prosecution was not obligated to answer any of their queries.

“The defence lawyers boycott court hearing and then ask for more time the next day. Their conduct shows that they are not serious about the trial,” the prosecutor said, adding that the defence team was wasting the court’s time.

Responding to prosecutor Zaheer Shah’s argument that questioning the court’s order amounted to contempt of court, lawyer Malik said that they were merely seeking a fair trial.

“If the suspect cannot listen to his lawyer and vice versa, how is this a fair trial,” the defence lawyer contended.

On the defence team’s request for the CCTV footage, prosecutor Zaheer said that as per the Lahore High Court (LHC) directives, neither any footage nor a transcript can be provided to anyone.

At this, Khan’s lawyer Salman Akram Raja said that the court does not operate on government instructions but works as per the constitution.

“It is not possible to present a person locked in a cell on WhatsApp,” Raja stressed, to which the court said that they have the right to challenge the court order.

After hearing both side’s arguments, the court rejected the petitions filed by the former PM.

With a total of 41 witnesses recording their statements in the case, the court also adjourned the hearing till September 27. 

The development follows ATC’s last week’s decision of rejecting Khan’s plea for in-person appearance in the said case after the Punjab government cancelled the jail trial of all May 9 cases, including the GHQ attack case.

GHQ attack case

PTI founder Khan along with dozens of other PTI workers indicted in the GHQ attack case related to May 9 violent protests in December 2024.

Over 143 individuals, including Khan, were named as accused in the case, while 23, including Zulfi Bukhari, Shahbaz Gill and Murad Saeed, were listed as fugitives. Additionally, all accused have been prohibited from travelling abroad.

At least 70 PTI leaders were accused of planning the May 9 events and inciting the workers and supporters to attack military and government installations following the arrest of the ousted prime minister by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The May 9 riots were triggered across the country after the deposed prime minister Khan’s arrest in the £190 million settlement case. Hundreds of PTI workers and senior leaders were put behind bars for their involvement in violence and attacks on military installations in 2023.

During the protests, the miscreants targeted the civil and military installations, including the Jinnah House and General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. 

Dua Lipa celebrated a major career milestone.

As the singer wrapped up four sold-out shows at New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden, she took to Instagram to mark the milestone.

Sharing a carousel of photos and videos from the shows, Lipa penned an emotional note in the caption.

Lipa wrote, “Pinch me, pinch me! 4 SOLD OUT NIGHTS AT MSG!!! 4 unforgettable nights filled with the most electric, unstoppable energy.”

“I am so deeply grateful to every single one of you who came out and shook the house down with me!! your love is something I’ll carry forever,” she added.

The Dance the Night singer went on to express her gratitude to Nile Rodgers and Lenny Kravitz for joinning her on the stage.

She wrote, “An extra special thank you to two absolute New York LEGENDS who joined me on stage.”

Adding, “the incomparable @nilerodgers on Saturday and the one and only @lennykravitz on Sunday.”

“Sharing the stage with you, singing the very songs that shaped me as an artist, was nothing short of a dream come true,” Lipa noted. “I’m floating right now, and I know I’ll be riding this high for a long, long time. Thank you, NYC… until next time.”

Next, Dua Lipa is set to perform two nights at Kaseya Center, Miami, as part of her Radical Optimism Tour.

Salma Hayek Pinault is celebrating daughter Valentina’s 18th birthday.

The actress shared sweet insights in the birthday bash of her “dream” daughter’s 18th birthday by taking to her Instagram account on Monday, September 23.

In the post, the proud mom revealed how they partied at the intimate party for daughter’s birthday.

“We ate, we danced, we laughed, we loved… and we kept the party going all weekend,” she wrote in the caption.

The first snap in the carousel featured a sweet picture of Valentina with her mom, Salma, and father, François-Henri Pinault.

In the second slide, Salma Hayek and Valentina danced together. Salma can be seen wearing a pink Kaftan dress while the birthday girl wore a red silk floor-length dress.

In the following slides, Valentina can be seen being carried by her father, a red-fondant cake and lastly a group photo in the last slide.

“Happy birthday mi cielo, celebrating you never feels long enough,” Salma added in the caption.

This post came a day after Salma penned down a heartfelt note to wish her daughter on her 18th birthday.

“My beautiful dancing queen. Today you turned 18 !!!!!,” she began.

“So many things have changed in your life, but you are always soooo you,” she said in the gushing note, calling Valentina, “A kind passionate heart, a wise soul full of magic, a unique unstoppable force of nature with a witty sense of humor and stubborn tenacity.”

“Some things will never chance we love you forever and although you were always ahead of your years you will always be in my heart my dream daughter,” Salma shared, ending the note with, “Feliz cumpleaños Valentina Paloma.”