On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, Imran Khan’s lawyers boycotted a hearing at the Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC). The case involves the May 9, 2023, attack on the army’s General Headquarters (GHQ). Connectivity problems during a WhatsApp call with Khan, who is in Adiala Jail, caused the boycott.
Khan joined the hearing via WhatsApp after the court denied his in-person appearance last week. Lawyers Salman Akram Raja and Faisal Malik tried to communicate with him, but Khan’s voice came through unclearly, and his video was blurry. They called the trial “unfair” and left the courtroom.
Despite the boycott, Judge Amjad Ali Shah recorded statements from eight witnesses, including officials from PEMRA, FIA, and PID. The court adjourned until September 27 and scheduled more witnesses. PTI lawyers rejected the court’s proceedings.
عمران خان صاحب کے سامنے جیل میں سیل فون رکھا گیا اور جج صاحب کے فون پر وٹس ایپ کال کی گئی اس میں نہ خان صاحب کی جج صاحب تک آواز آرہی تھی نہ جج صاحب کی خان صاحب کو آواز جارہی تھی یہ کسی بھی طرح فیر ٹرائل نہیں ہے جب عمران خان کو اپنا موقف پیش کرنے کا موقع ہی نہ دیا جائے۔
ہم خان… pic.twitter.com/puBIR1VbRc
— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 23, 2025Outside the court, Raja told the media the mobile phone setup failed. “Khan sahib couldn’t hear the court, and we couldn’t hear him,” he said. The lawyers requested to speak privately with Khan but were denied access. Raja filed a plea with the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench to challenge this.
Read: Imran Khan Writes Emotional Letter to CJP from Adiala Jail
The GHQ attack followed Khan’s arrest on May 9, 2023, in a graft case. Protests erupted, damaging state buildings. Khan faced indictment on December 5, 2023, and has remained in Adiala Jail since August 2023.
The boycott highlights problems with virtual trials and raises questions about fairness for Khan’s defence. The May 9 case remains a critical legal battle for PTI. Imran Khan’s lawyers left the ATC hearing due to technical problems and called for an open trial. The case resumes on September 27.
