An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Wednesday issued arrest warrants for eight PTI leaders, including Asad Qaiser, Shibli Faraz, Omar Ayub and Ali Nawaz Awan, in a case registered under terrorism provisions.

Today’s hearing was presided over by ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, with none of the PTI leaders appearing before the court despite being repeatedly summoned.

Expressing displeasure over their continued absence, the judge ordered their arrest and directed authorities to produce them before November 11. The hearing was subsequently adjourned until the next date.

The case was registered by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) against the PTI leaders under relevant sections of the anti-terrorism act with charges of involvement in activities falling within the ambit of terrorism-related offences.

Non-bailable arrest warrants for Gandapur

In a separate development, Additional District and Sessions Judge Nasruminallah Baloch issued non-bailable arrest warrants for former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur in the audio leak case.

The judge expressed anger over Gandapur’s failure to appear for indictment proceedings, noting that neither he nor his legal representative attended the hearing.

The court had fixed the proceedings for indictment; however, the process could not be completed due to Gandapur’s absence. The judge postponed the hearing and adjourned the case until December 5, directing the police to arrest Gandapur and produce him before the court.

The case against Gandapur was registered at the Golra Police Station after an audio leak surfaced in which he was purportedly heard asking about the number of weapons, licences and people for a PTI protest.

The recording reportedly prompted a police investigation into the nature and intent of the conversation.