Judicial complex case
ISLAMABAD: On Wednesday, an Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) issued arrest warrants for nine PTI leaders in a case related to violence that occurred outside the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC).
Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain issued these arrest warrants for Hammad Azhar, Shibli Faraz, Murad Saeed, Omar Ayub Khan, Ali Amin Gandapur, Ali Nawaz Awan, Hassaan Khan Niazi, Umer Sultan, and Muhammad Asim.
Additionally, the court issued arrest warrants for Farrukh Habib, who recently parted ways with the PTI.
This decision was reached as the accused individuals failed to appear before the court despite being summoned. The court declared them proclaimed offenders and ordered their apprehension and presentation.
The case is linked to confrontations that occurred in March, involving clashes between the police and PTI supporters when party chairman Imran Khan was at the FJC for a hearing related to the Toshakhana case.
During the violent encounter, law enforcement personnel and PTI supporters used riot control equipment, including teargas, against each other.
The PTI supporters resorted to using rocks and even petrol bombs to set police vehicles on fire. They also set a police chowki ablaze, resulting in injuries to over 25 officials.
Imran Khan and other PTI leaders were subsequently booked in cases by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and the Golra Police Station, with allegations that PTI leaders and workers had attacked the police and incited unrest outside the Federal Judicial Complex in Islamabad during the Toshakhana case hearing.
PTI leader Parvez Elahi was arrested in connection with this case in September, shortly after the Islamabad High Court suspended his detention under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance and ordered his release. On Tuesday, Elahi’s judicial remand was extended until November 21.
IHC rejects Imran Khan’s intra-court appeal
Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) rejected an intra-court appeal by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan against his jail trial in the cipher case.
The hearing was presided over by a two-member IHC division bench, including Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat.
Salman Akram Raja, the counsel for PTI chief, argued before the bench that the federal government lacked the authority to issue a notification for conducting Khan’s trial in prison.
He asserted that the issuance of a jail trial notification was an administrative matter within the jurisdiction of the Islamabad commissioner.
