When Imran Khan Was Last Seen? Court Drama Deepens Over PTI Founder’s Visibility

The question When Imran Khan was last seen? continues to dominate Pakistan’s political conversations, overshadowing the legal battles unfolding in Rawalpindi. The PTI founder’s absence from court appearances, coupled with heavy security and videolink controversies, has left supporters demanding transparency. With over 700 officers stationed outside the anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday, proceedings went ahead, but Khan’s restricted visibility remains the focal point of debate.

While the government insists on videolink arrangements in the GHQ attack case, defence lawyers argue that justice cannot be conducted through shaky WhatsApp calls. The standoff has revived broader concerns about fair trial rights, legal independence, and political isolation. For millions of Pakistanis, the real issue is no longer just the charges against him, it is the lingering question of When Imran Khan was last seen? in person addressing a court.

Videolink Battles and the Question: When Imran Khan Was Last Seen?

Inside the courtroom, prosecutors presented witness statements and submitted USB drives containing dozens of video clips allegedly linking Khan and other PTI leaders to the May 9 unrest. Defence lawyers, however, protested vigorously, claiming the government is deliberately keeping the former prime minister out of public view.

Advocate Faisal Malik raised sharp objections, calling the video proceedings “illegal and unreliable.” He criticised the WhatsApp connection used during the hearing, noting that the voice broke repeatedly and the picture was blurred. “How can a fair trial proceed when the accused himself cannot properly participate?” Malik asked.

The ATC dismissed requests to produce Khan in person, insisting that appearances would continue via videolink. This decision infuriated PTI counsel, who declared a boycott of the trial. Imran Khan, appearing briefly on screen, supported his lawyers’ move before the videolink was abruptly cut off. His supporters claim such restrictions are a tactic to ensure the public cannot clearly answer the question: When Imran Khan was last seen?

Legal Complexity Meets Political Symbolism

Friday’s proceedings highlighted more than just a legal dispute; they revealed how courtrooms have become stages for political symbolism. Outside the court, roads were sealed, media vans restricted, and even lawyers’ access was limited under extraordinary security arrangements. PTI leaders accused the state of attempting to hide Khan, with Fawad Chaudhry claiming that “courts are scared of his pictures leaking.”

The backdrop is the GHQ attack case, in which Khan and several PTI figures face severe charges ranging from conspiracy to terrorism. Witnesses allege protesters stormed sensitive army sites, hurled petrol bombs, and raised slogans against the military establishment. The prosecution insists this was no ordinary protest but a criminal conspiracy designed to destabilise national security.

Yet Khan’s defence team has turned the trial into a broader debate about constitutional rights, transparency, and the dangers of isolation. They argue that Article 10-A guarantees a fair trial, and that shutting Khan behind digital screens undermines that principle. Advocate Salman Akram Raja has already announced plans to challenge the videolink notification at the High Court.

For many observers, the clash is not simply about evidence or legal technicalities, it is about the optics of invisibility. Every time Khan is absent from a courtroom, speculation grows about his health, his confinement, and his ability to lead PTI.

What Lies Ahead?

The ATC has adjourned the GHQ attack case until September 23, summoning 10 additional witnesses from government institutions. Out of 119 witnesses, 27 have already testified. But beyond the numbers, the spotlight remains fixed on Khan’s visibility.

For his supporters, his physical presence is more than a procedural demand, it is a symbol of resistance against what they perceive as politically motivated trials. For the state, keeping him behind videolinks may be about security, control, and narrative management.

As the proceedings continue, one question continues to echo across Pakistan’s streets, social media feeds, and political circles: When Imran Khan was last seen?