KARACHI, Sept 15: The extended absence of over 20 policemen irked judges as different courts issued non-bailable warrants for their arrest on Saturday.

The policemen were prosecution witnesses in a number of criminal cases and despite repeated orders issued by the courts to record their testimonies, they did not turn up in courts.

The crime investigation department arrested Mohammad Akram in January and Yasin in March 2011 and claimed to have found unlicensed weapons in their possession.

They were booked under Section 13-D of the Pakistan Arms Ordinance, 1965.

Inspector Salamatullah, Sub-Inspectors Chaudhry Mohammad Iqbal and Shahid Karim, ASIs Mohammad Saleh Solangi and Mir Baig and Constables Mohammad Ashraf and Siddiq were prosecution witnesses in theses cases.

Sub-Inspectors Zulfiqar and Mulazim Hussain Bhatti and Head Constables Rizwan and Shah Mir were witnesses in two cases registered against Ahmed under Sections 13-D and 13-E of the Arms Ordinance at the Boat Basin and the Darakshan police stations.

The courts have been repeatedly issuing notices and summons to the police officials for the past few months.

However, the policemen did not turn up to testify.

The courts of three judicial magistrates (south) issued non-bailable warrants for the policemen and directed police high-ups to arrest them and produce them in court on next hearings.