Both plead not guilty as court orders prosecution witnesses to appear on February 23
PTI leader Raoof Hasan (L) and Ahmed Waqas Janjua (R). PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
An anti-terrorism court in the federal capital has framed charges against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders Raoof Hasan and Ahmed Waqas Janjua in a case alleging links with terrorists.
Hasan attended the hearing, along with advocate Ayesha Khalid. Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra heard the matter and formally indicted the two men, and both defendants pleaded not guilty.
The court ordered prosecution witnesses to appear at the next hearing and adjourned proceedings until February 23.
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Raoof Hasan is Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s central secretary of information/spokesperson, while Ahmad Waqas Janjua is PTI’s International Media Coordinator.
In July 2024, Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior said a joint investigation team would probe “anti-state propaganda” in a case filed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) linked to PTI’s digital media operations, after raids and arrests involving both Hasan and Janjua.
After that, Hasan was arrested in a terrorism case following a statement attributed to Janjua, with prosecutors alleging Hassan provided Rs300,000 to “incite terror”. The court granted the Counter Terrorism Department physical remand for investigation at the time.
In January 2025, a charge sheet in a separate case involving Hasan, linked to alleged propaganda against state institutions, was not submitted again, leading the court to adjourn the hearing.
