An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Wednesday issued arrest warrants against 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, and none of the PTI leaders appeared in court despite being summoned repeatedly.
Expressing displeasure at their continued absence, the judge ordered their arrest and ordered authorities to produce them by November 11. The hearing was subsequently adjourned to the following date.
The case was registered by the Anti-Terrorism Department (CTD) against the PTI leaders under relevant sections of the anti-terror law on 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 Nasrumallah Baloch issued non-bailable arrest warrants for former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in the audio leak case.
The judge expressed anger at Gandapur’s failure to appear for the arraignment, noting that neither he nor his legal representative attended the hearing.
The court had set the impeachment procedure; However, the process could not be completed due to the absence of Gandapur. The judge adjourned the hearing and adjourned the case to December 5, ordering the police to arrest Gandapur and produce him before the court.
The case against Gandapur was registered at Golra police station after an audio leak emerged in which he was allegedly heard asking about the number of weapons, licenses and people for a PTI protest.
The recording reportedly sparked a police investigation into the nature and intent of the conversation.
