Attack on Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband: Charges against PTI lawyers will be framed today

ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has decided to frame charges against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyers today (Wednesday) in a case registered against them in connection with an attack on Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband, Khawar Maneka.

Accountability Court judge, Tahir AbbasSipra, while hearing the case on Tuesday, fixed November 11 for the indictment of PTI lawyers in the case registered by Ramna Police Station for allegedly assaulting Khawar Maneka after the hearing of appeals filed by PTI founding chairman Imran Khan and his wife against the verdict of a trial court in the Iddat case.

During the hearing, the court dismissed PTI’s lawyer’s plea to grant them a longer adjournment of the case. The judge expressed annoyance over the continued absence of some of the accused in the case.

The judge remarked that the hearing of the case will be conducted on a day-to-day basis until all accused in the case appear before it. “Sometimes lawyer Naeem Hadier Panjuta is attending a funeral prayer, and sometimes someone else is somewhere else,” the judge remarked.

The defence lawyers argued that some accused persons were appearing regularly and questioned why they should suffer because of the absence of their co-accused. “Sir, we appear before the court every day. What is the fault of those who appear regularly,” they asked.

The judge said that those appearing regularly were also co-accused in the case. The court adjourned the hearing of the case till today (Wednesday).

Police registered the first information report (FIR) at the complaint of the district court’s security in-charge under Section 7ATA (Anti-Terrorism Act), Section 506 (criminal intimidation), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), Section 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 324 (attempt to commit Qatl-i-Amd), 147 (punishment for rioting),149 (offence is committed by any member of an unlawful assembly), 341 (wrongful restraint), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), and 384 (theft after preparation made for causing death).

The FIR says PTI lawyers, including Naeem Haider Panjuta, Ali Ijaz Buttar, Zahid Bashir Dar, Usman Gull, and Ansar Kayani, besides 20 to 25 unidentified individuals, allegedly attacked Manekaat the district courts’ premises. It says Advocate Burki led the mob as he incited it through provocative statements, hurled death threats, and kicked Khawar Maneka.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026