ISLAMABAD: A court in the federal capital has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in connection with a case involving the recovery of arms and liquor.
The court also rejected Gandapur’s request for exemption from appearing in court on medical grounds. Civil Judge Shaista Khan Kundi instructed the Barakahu station house officer (SHO) to arrest Gandapur and bring him before the court.
The case dates back to October 2016, when five Kalashnikov rifles, a pistol, six magazines, a bullet-proof vest, three teargas shells, and bottles of alcohol were allegedly recovered from Gandapur’s car. At the time, Gandapur was serving as a provincial minister in KP. He faces charges under illegal arms and anti-drugs laws.
Earlier this year, on March 7, a local court in Islamabad overturned the trial court’s decision declaring Gandapur a “proclaimed offender” in this case. The trial court had previously labeled Gandapur an absconder due to his absence from proceedings. However, the District and Sessions Court Judge Shahrukh Arjumand nullified this order after a review petition, stating that Gandapur had missed court appearances due to official duties and issues with legal document delivery.
In addition to the arms and liquor case, the hearing for Gandapur’s involvement in the attack on the Judicial Complex in Islamabad was also adjourned today based on a medical certificate. Gandapur’s lawyer, Raja Zahoorul Hasan, informed the court that Gandapur had sustained an injury and was advised to rest for a week, which prevented him from attending the hearing.
