LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for PTI Chairman Imran Khan and six other leaders of the party in two cases relating to the May 9 attacks lodged by Model Town and Naseerabad police.

Other suspects include former federal ministers Hammad Azhar and Murad Saeed, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema and his wife Musarrat Jamshed Cheema, former provincial minister Mian Aslam Iqbal and Imran Khan’s nephew Hassaan Khan Niazi.

In another development, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to frame charges against PTI chief Imran Khan and two other former top office-bearers of the party, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry, next month, in a contempt of commission case against them.

ECP to frame charges against Imran, Asad and Fawad

In the antiterrorism court, Inspector Muhammad Saleem, the in-charge of investigation, filed two separate applications for issuance of non-bailable arrest warrants for the suspects.

The police officer contended that all efforts had been put to arrest the suspects, but they deliberately continued to avoid the law.

ATC administrative judge Abher Gul Khan allowed the police request and issued non-bailable arrest warrants against the seven suspects.

Model Town police registered the FIR against the PTI leaders on charges of attacking and torching the PML-N office, while Naseerabad police accused them of torching a container at Kalma Chowk, during the May 9 riots.

ECP to frame charges against Imran

Separately, the ECP decided to frame charges against PTI chief Imran Khan as well as Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry, next month in a contempt of commission case against them.

A four-member commission, headed by Sindh member of ECP Nisar Durrani, heard the contempt case and announced the reserved verdict on the objections put forth by the PTI.

The commission had previously announced its decision to issue bailable arrest warrants for senior party leaders in January for failing to appear before the commission in contempt proceedings.

Talking to reporters after the hearing, advocate Fareed said there was nothing surprising in the order. “We were anticipating such an order from the election commission,” he remarked.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2023