PESHAWAR, Feb 23: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for a convicted drug trafficker, Amanullah Kundi, whose prison term had been suspended by the NWFP government last year.

A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk and Justice Qaim Jan Khan fixed March 10 for next hearing and ordered that the convict, who is also a former provincial minister, should be produced on that date.

The bench also directed a section officer of the home department of Sindh government to submit comments within a fortnight in reply to the writ petition filed by the Anti-Narcotics Force against the suspension of the prison term.

As Mr Kundi was convicted by the trial court on charges of drug trafficking in Karachi, therefore the Sindh government was also made respondent in the petition. The ANF has contended that the NWFP government had no authority to suspend the prison term of Mr Kundi as he was convicted in Karachi.

During last two hearings the court had ordered Mr Kundi to appear in person. Advocate Yahya Afridi, appearing for Mr Kundi, informed the court that he was withdrawing his power of attorney and he would no longer represent him. He stated that he had informed Mr Kundi about the court orders but he failed to turn up before the court. He added that Mr Kundi was in his village.

The deputy attorney general, Salahuddin Khan, appeared for the ANF and stated that a section officer of Sindh government was in the courtroom. The bench directed him to file comments of the government in reply to the petition.