Imran Khan must face an Islamabad anti-terrorism court at the next hearing of the Judicial Complex attack case. Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra issued the direction on Monday, October 5, 2026, leaving jail authorities a month to comply.
The court also declared four former federal ministers proclaimed offenders and issued non-bailable warrants for two other PTI figures. It adjourned proceedings until November 5, when Imran Khan must appear in person or by video link.
What the Anti-Terrorism Court Ordered
Judge Sipra directed authorities to produce Imran Khan either physically or through a video link at the next hearing. Khan remains held at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, so compliance rests with the prison administration.
The direction is procedural. It decides nothing on guilt, and the court is still working to secure the presence of accused persons named in the case registered at Ramna police station in Islamabad.
- Court: Anti-terrorism court, Islamabad (Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra)
- Order issued: October 5, 2026
- Next hearing: November 5, 2026
- Appearance: In person or by video link from Adiala jail
- Case registered at: Ramna police station
Who Else Faces Court Action
Farrukh Habib, Hammad Azhar, Murad Saeed and Shibli Faraz were declared proclaimed offenders after repeatedly failing to appear. The court also sought details of their properties, a step that can lead to attachment of assets.
Non-bailable warrants went out for Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, a former Punjab Assembly deputy speaker, and PTI leader Hassan Niazi. Police can now arrest both and bring them before the court.
| Name | Court action on October 5 |
|---|---|
| Farrukh Habib | Declared proclaimed offender |
| Hammad Azhar | Declared proclaimed offender |
| Murad Saeed | Declared proclaimed offender |
| Shibli Faraz | Declared proclaimed offender |
| Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi | Non-bailable arrest warrant |
| Hassan Niazi | Non-bailable arrest warrant |
What Happened at the Judicial Complex in 2023
Reports say Imran Khan visited the Judicial Complex in Islamabad in 2023 to seek bail in multiple cases. A large crowd of supporters dismantled security barriers, damaged the entrance gate and obstructed court proceedings.
Accounts of the date differ. Some reports point to February 2023; others to March 18, 2023, when he attended a Toshakhana hearing. Court records would settle which incident the present trial covers.
The Charges Under Anti-Terrorism Act Section 7
Police registered the case under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and Section 353 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The first covers acts of terrorism; the second concerns assault or criminal force against a public servant.
Police alleged that an armed crowd entered the complex and damaged government property, with arrests and weapon recoveries. In March 2023, then Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah accused Khan of planning it to win “favourable decisions”. These remain allegations, not findings.
What a Proclaimed Offender Declaration Means
A court can declare an accused person a proclaimed offender when he or she repeatedly evades summons and warrants. The label signals that the court regards the person as absconding from the legal process.
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Courts often follow it by seeking property details, which is why the bench asked for them here. Reports mention only that request; no seizure order has been reported, and Azhar and Saeed were declared absconders at an earlier hearing.
Can Imran Khan Appear by Video Link From Adiala Jail?
The order allows either route, leaving the choice to jail and court logistics. Video appearances have already become a flashpoint elsewhere in his cases, particularly the Rawalpindi trial over the May 9 attack on army headquarters.
In September 2025, a Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court rejected a plea against Imran Khan’s video-link appearance. Prosecutor Zaheer Shah cited a 2016 amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure and called the challenge a delaying tactic.
Why Production Orders Matter in Terrorism Trials
A production order is the tool a court uses to secure an accused person held in custody. Without the defendant present, a trial court struggles to frame charges or record statements, so absence stalls proceedings.
Pressure has been applied before. In July 2023, an Islamabad anti-terrorism court issued bailable warrants for Imran Khan in three Judicial Complex-related cases and demanded he attend in person, adjourning to July 19.
Khan’s Wider Legal Position
Imran Khan has been in prison since August 2023 and has faced multiple cases since his removal through a no-confidence vote in April 2022. They include allegations over the sale of state gifts and an unlawful marriage case.
He is serving a sentence in the £190 million corruption case, which is separate from this trial. Imran Khan and his party describe his convictions as politically motivated; no verdict has been announced in the Judicial Complex case.
What It Means for PTI’s Senior Leadership
Four of the party’s best-known former ministers now carry proclaimed-offender status, and two more leaders face arrest. For a party already stretched by multiple cases, the order could narrow its public leadership further.
Any property attachment would raise the cost of staying away. The practical test comes before November 5: whether any of the six surface in court, seek relief from a higher forum, or stay absent.
What to Watch on November 5
Three things matter: whether jail authorities bring Imran Khan physically or by link, whether police execute the warrants, and what property details reach the court. Each will show how far the case can move.
The written order will clarify how Imran Khan must appear and what the property inquiry covers. Until it is public, accounts of the courtroom exchange rest on press reports, and none has quoted the judge or defence lawyers directly.
