Rawalpindi: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has rejected a request filed by Aleema Khan seeking to summon federal and provincial ministers as court witnesses in a case related to the November 26 protest.
The decision was announced by ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah, who delivered a reserved verdict on the application. The court dismissed the request to call government ministers and other individuals as judicial witnesses during the trial.
Request Included 21 Witnesses
Aleema Khan had filed an application seeking the appearance of 21 witnesses, including two federal ministers and one provincial minister, as court witnesses in the case.
Her legal team argued that the testimony of the proposed witnesses was necessary for the proper adjudication of the matter. However, the prosecution opposed the request, maintaining that the evidence and witness testimony already recorded during the trial were sufficient.
Court’s Reasoning
In its written order, the court observed that the prosecution’s witnesses had already been extensively examined during the proceedings.
According to the ruling, 19 prosecution witnesses had been subjected to detailed cross-examination throughout the trial.
The court stated that summoning additional judicial witnesses under the circumstances would effectively result in repeating the same exercise that had already been conducted during the evidentiary phase of the case.
“The extensive cross-examination of prosecution witnesses has already taken place,” the court noted, adding that judicial witnesses could not be summoned merely to duplicate matters that had already been addressed during the trial.
Arguments by Both Sides
The hearing involved arguments from both the prosecution and the defense.
The Special Prosecutor opposed the application and urged the court to reject the request for summoning additional witnesses, arguing that it was unnecessary and could delay the proceedings.
On the other hand, Faisal Malik, counsel for Aleema Khan, presented arguments in support of the application during proceedings held last week. The defense maintained that the proposed witnesses could provide information relevant to the case.
After hearing both sides, the court reserved its verdict before ultimately dismissing the application.
Background of the Case
The case relates to events surrounding the November 26 protest, for which proceedings are underway before the Anti-Terrorism Court in Rawalpindi. The matter is one of several legal cases connected to political demonstrations and public protests that have been the subject of judicial scrutiny.
With the dismissal of the latest application, the trial is expected to continue based on the evidence and witness testimony already recorded before the court.
The ruling marks another procedural development in the ongoing proceedings, as both the prosecution and defense prepare for the next stages of the case. Legal observers note that the decision reflects the court’s view that sufficient opportunities for examination and cross-examination have already been provided during the trial process.
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