A district and sessions court in Islamabad has once again issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur. The action was taken after his continued absence from the proceedings of the high-profile audio leak case. The order directs police to arrest the PTI leader and present him before the court without delay.
Court Proceedings Delayed Again Due to Gandapur’s Absence
The hearing was presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Nasr Minallah Baloch. A co-accused in the case appeared before the court, but Gandapur’s absence prevented the framing of charges. The judge adjourned the hearing until January 20, extending the already prolonged legal process.
The case was registered at Golra Police Station after an alleged audio leak emerged. In the recording, the former KP chief minister was purportedly heard asking about the number of weapons, licences, and people available. The leak triggered serious legal scrutiny, adding to the mounting list of cases surrounding the PTI leader.
This is not the first time the court has taken such action. The same court had issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Gandapur in September in the same matter, but he failed to appear.
Multiple Arrest Warrants Add Pressure on Former KP CM
Gandapur is already facing several cases, and multiple non-bailable arrest warrants have been issued against him in the past due to his repeated failure to attend court hearings.
On November 17, a judicial magistrate issued another warrant in a liquor and arms recovery case dating back to October 2016. Police had claimed the recovery of five Kalashnikov rifles, a pistol, six magazines, a bulletproof vest, three teargas shells, and bottles of alcohol from his vehicle. Gandapur, who was then a provincial minister, was booked under anti-drugs and illegal arms laws.
The PTI leader has consistently denied the allegations. He insists the weapons were licensed and the bottle labeled as alcohol actually contained honey. Despite his claims, the case has continued for nearly nine years, frequently stalled because of his absences from court.
With the latest warrant, Gandapur’s legal troubles have deepened further as the audio leak case moves into a critical phase.
