The Lahore High Court rejected Sheikh Rashid's acquittal plea in the May 9 attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ).
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf, issued the written decision on the plea. The court upheld the trial court's ruling, dismissing the request for acquittal.
The petitioner argued that he was politically implicated in the case, while the prosecution stated that police had named the accused based on the statements of co-accused.
Rashid's defence claimed there was no possibility of a conviction and therefore sought acquittal at the preliminary stage. However, the court noted that the trial had not yet begun and no witnesses had been heard.
In its written order, the court emphasised that decisions on acquittal could only be made after reviewing witnesses and evidence. It stated that Rashid could file a fresh acquittal plea after witnesses were recorded in the trial.
The case, relating to the 9 May incident at the GHQ in Rawalpindi, was registered by the RA Bazaar police station. The trial court had earlier rejected the plea for acquittal.
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