ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in a case registered in connection with violent protests outside the Federal Judicial Complex following the ouster of PTI government in 2022.

ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra issued the arrest warrants against CM Gandapur, Wasiq Qayum Abbasi, Raja Rashid Hafeez and Amir Mehmood Kayani for their continued absence during the proceedings of the case.

The court declared the party’s former member of Punjab Assembly, Umar Tanveer Butt, proclaimed offender and issued his proclamation.

During the hearing, advocate Amina Ali submitted an application, asking the court to exempt Faisal Javed from personal hearing. The request was accepted.

Ex-MPA Tanveer Butt declared proclaimed offender

Raja Zahoorul Hassan, counsel for Mr Gandapur, also sought a similar relief. He argued before the judge that the chief minister was busy in other engagements and would appear before the court on the next date of hearing.

The prosecutor, on the other hand, argued that the suspect was in habit of avoiding personal attendance.

The judge noted that the court had exempted Mr Gandapur from personal hearing on Sept 4 on health grounds, but he had attended the PTI’s Sept 8 rally.

The court issued directives for his production and briefly adjourned the hearing.

When the hearing resumed, advocate Hassan informed the court that Mr Gandapur could not appear since the roads were closed and requested the court to adjourn the hearing so that the chief minister could appear on some other date.

The judge replied that the court would not extend the same relief time and again.

He then withdrew the bail granting order for Mr Gandapur and issued warrants for their arrest.

Meanwhile, Judicial Magistrate Shaista Kundi recused herself from hearing a case against CM Gandapur related to the recovery of liquor and weapons.

When the judge inquired as to why Mr Gandapur was not in attendance, the counsel replied that he was in Peshawar and was leaving for Lahore to attend a PTI jalsa.

He said roads were blocked and it was not possible for him to appear before the magistrate.

Ms Kundi remarked that Mr Gandapur could use his official helicopter to reach the court and to his destination later on.

The counsel replied that it was difficult for him to land in Islamabad.

The judicial magistrate, however, recused herself to hear the case and sent the file to the district and sessions judge for onward entrustment of the case to some other judge.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2024