A District and Sessions Court in Islamabad on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in connection with the liquor and arms recovery case, instructing authorities to produce him before the court on September 17.
Judicial Magistrate Mubashir Hassan Chishti passed the order after neither Gandapur nor his legal team appeared during the hearing. The court directed that the accused be arrested and presented at the next scheduled hearing, emphasizing that compliance with the order was mandatory.
Shortly after the warrant was issued, Gandapur’s lawyer, Raja Zahoor-ul-Hassan, appeared in court and requested its suspension. He argued that the widespread media coverage of the arrest order had already caused serious repercussions for his client.
However, the magistrate rejected the plea, clarifying that the warrant would only be withdrawn once Gandapur was physically produced before the court.
The liquor and arms recovery case against Gandapur was registered at Islamabad’s Bhara Kahu police station and has been under judicial consideration for several months. This is not the first arrest warrant issued in the matter; on July 19, 2025, the District and Sessions Court had also directed Gandapur’s appearance, highlighting the court’s repeated insistence on his presence.
During the hearing, the magistrate noted that had any representative or junior lawyer appeared earlier to request a new date, the court would have considered granting it. However, due to the complete absence of representation, the court felt compelled to issue the arrest warrant.
Authorities have been instructed to ensure full compliance with the court’s directive, and Gandapur is expected to appear before the court on September 17, 2025.
Until then, law enforcement agencies have been tasked with monitoring the situation and taking appropriate action to enforce the warrant. The case continues to attract attention due to Gandapur’s political stature and the serious nature of the charges, reflecting ongoing scrutiny over allegations involving liquor and arms in the province.
