A Gujranwala Anti-Terrorism Court has delivered a landmark verdict in the high-profile case stemming from the 2022 assault on former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Naveed, identified as the principal perpetrator, was convicted on charges of terrorism and the murder of PTI worker Moazzam. The court imposed two separate life sentences and levied a fine of PKR 500,000. In addition, Naveed received further prison terms of 3-5 years for wounding four other individuals during the incident.
Earlier Bail Orders
While Naveed faced the full weight of the law, two other suspects—Tayyab Jahangir Butt and Waqas—were acquitted owing to insufficient evidence. This contrasts with an earlier judicial decision in February 2023, when the same ATC granted bail to Ahsan, brother of a local PML-N leader. Ahsan walked free after furnishing surety bonds amounting to PKR 500,000.
However, the court that day denied bail to co-accused Waqas, setting the stage for his later prosecution and eventual acquittal.
Anatomy Of the Wazirabad Attack
On November 3, 2022, Imran Khan was leading a long march through Wazirabad when “a man shot and wounded Imran Khan and killed one of his supporters, Moazzam.” Several others, including Faisal Javed, were also injured.
The attack triggered immediate outrage and suspicion. Khan publicly “accused senior government officials, including the federal interior minister, of being involved in the planning,” a claim that fueled a tense standoff between political factions and law enforcement.
Days after the shooting, authorities registered the case and on the same day constituted a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997. The First Information Report was formally lodged on November 7, setting the wheels of the legal process in motion.
Political Response
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) marked its 29th foundation day on Friday with a call for the release of its detained leadership. At a gathering in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, party stalwarts—including KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur—united to pass a resolution demanding justice and constitutional supremacy.
The resolution denounced the “illegal” imprisonment of Imran Khan and PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, stating that the party would persist in its struggle for the rule of law.
It read in part, “The nation responded to the call of its leader, Imran Khan and won the PTI with a huge majority in the February 8, 2024, elections. Unfortunately, the party’s mandate was stolen. This is a robbery on the rights of the people and an attack on the Constitution. We strongly demand the return of our legitimate mandate.”
By reaffirming its commitment to these principles, PTI aims to keep pressure on the authorities amid ongoing legal battles and political uncertainty.
With Naveed now facing life behind bars and substantial fines, the verdict delivers a decisive blow against terrorism in Pakistan. Yet the wider political fallout—ranging from high-profile accusations to demands for the release of jailed leaders—suggests this episode will continue to shape the nation’s legal and constitutional debates for months to come.
Read More: Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, States High Court, International
