A district and sessions court in Islamabad has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur in connection with an arms and liquor recovery case. The order comes after his repeated failure to appear before the court despite multiple summons.
Judicial Magistrate Mubashir Hassan directed the police to arrest Gandapur and produce him before the court. The case, registered at the Bara Kahu Police Station, has been pending for several months, with the next hearing scheduled for October 28.
Repeated Absence Leads to Stronger Action
According to the court’s directives, the decision was taken due to Gandapur’s continuous absence from hearings. The magistrate noted that previous notices and warrants had gone unheeded, leaving no option but to issue a non-bailable warrant.
The move signifies a stricter stance by the judiciary toward repeated non-compliance by high-profile political figures. It also adds to the growing list of legal challenges faced by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership across the country.
Case Background and Allegations
The case dates back to a police raid in which arms and liquor were allegedly recovered from Gandapur’s possession. While his legal team has dismissed the charges as politically motivated, the case has continued to move through lower court proceedings.
The latest warrant marks the second time the same court has ordered Gandapur’s arrest in connection with this case. Despite being granted previous opportunities to appear, he has not complied, resulting in the court’s stronger action.
Mounting Legal Pressure on PTI Leadership
The non-bailable arrest warrant adds to the mounting legal troubles for Ali Amin Gandapur, who was recently removed from his position as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s chief minister. His party, PTI, has been entangled in a series of legal and political crises since the violent protests of May 9, 2023.
Several senior PTI leaders, including Imran Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and Yasmin Rashid, are already in custody over various charges related to those incidents. The issuance of fresh warrants underscores the ongoing legal pressure on the party’s leadership.
Broader Crackdown on PTI Figures
The latest development coincides with a similar order by an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi, which directed the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan. She has been summoned in connection with protest cases stemming from the party’s November 26 demonstration last year.
These consecutive actions indicate that the judiciary and law enforcement agencies are intensifying efforts to pursue pending cases involving senior PTI figures.
Political Repercussions
Observers believe Gandapur’s arrest, if carried out, could trigger further tensions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s political landscape. As a vocal critic of the federal government and a prominent PTI figure, his detention would likely deepen political polarization in the province.
The PTI has not yet released an official statement regarding the latest court order, but party insiders suggest a legal appeal may be filed to suspend the warrant.
With multiple court cases ongoing against key leaders, the PTI’s political revival faces significant hurdles. The situation remains fluid, with further legal actions anticipated in the coming weeks.
