ISLAMABAD: In a development on Monday, a special court in Islamabad declared Azam Swati, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former federal minister, as a proclaimed offender in the case of the controversial tweet filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) last year.
The Special Judge Central Islamabad, Shahrukh Arjumand, ordered the immediate arrest of Swati and directed that he should be produced once his whereabouts are determined.
Previously, in May, the same special court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Azam Swati at the FIA’s request. These warrants were issued because Swati failed to appear before the court for indictment in a case related to his controversial tweets. Swati’s lawyer informed the court that he had lost contact with his client.
During the proceedings, the lawyer representing Swati opposed Special Prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi’s request for non-bailable arrest warrants, arguing that the law regarding such warrants “is very different.”
The FIA’s lawyer, in response, told the court that Azam Swati intentionally avoided appearing before the court. Consequently, the court proceeded to issue the non-bailable arrest warrants against Swati.
Pakistan Sends Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Amid Ongoing Israeli Aggression
Meanwhile, Pakistan announced its decision to send humanitarian aid to the war-torn Gaza Strip in order to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian population. The Foreign Office made this announcement in response to the ongoing Israeli aggression and siege in Gaza.
The statement from the Foreign Office highlighted the urgent need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza due to the indiscriminate Israeli attacks and the siege of the densely populated area. The government of Pakistan is coordinating with various organizations, including the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, relevant UN agencies, the Government of Egypt, and Pakistan’s Missions abroad to work out the details of aid delivery.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with the regional head of the United Nations’ World Health Organization stating that the territory has only “24 hours of water, electricity, and fuel left.” If Gaza does not receive aid timely, healthcare providers may have to prepare death certificates for their patients.
As of Monday, Gaza had endured 10 days of relentless Israeli airstrikes, triggered by an attack on October 7 by Hamas militants based in Gaza, resulting in numerous casualties in southern Israel.
The power outages are jeopardizing life-support systems, such as desalination plants, food refrigeration, and hospital incubators. Basic daily activities, like using the restroom, showering, and washing clothes, have become nearly impossible for local residents.
Furthermore, overcrowding is overwhelming hospitals, leading to difficulties in properly caring for the deceased. Intensive care units, operating rooms, emergency services, and other hospital departments are on the verge of collapse.
