ISLAMABAD: An antiterrorism court withdrew the non-bailable warrants issued a day ago for arrest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai after he appeared before the court on Wednesday.

ATC Judge Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi had issued non-bailable warrants for arrest of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) minister in a case related to attacks on the Parliament House and Pakistan Television building during the 2014 sit-in, as Mr Yousafzai had failed to appear before the court despite repeated summons.

While issuing the warrants, the judge had directed police to arrest Mr Yousafzai and produce him before the court on March 28, the next date of hearing.

Shaukat Yousafzai asked to join PTV, Parliament House attack case proceedings on March 28

On Wednesday, the KP minister appeared before the ATC and assured the court that he would appear on each and every date of hearing. He asked the court to revoke the non-bailable arrest warrants. The court accepted his request and asked him to join the trial proceedings on March 28.

On Aug 31, 2014, in an attempt to topple the PML-N government, the PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers marched on the Parliament House and PM House while clashing with police along the way.

On Sept 1, the protesters ransacked the PTV office and Parliament House premises. PTI chairman Imran Khan, PAT chief Tahirul Qadri and several others were booked for their alleged involvement in the attack.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2019