Islamabad: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad issued non-bailable arrest warrants on Saturday for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and three other politicians over terrorism charges related to vandalism at the Judicial Complex in Islamabad.
The case involves several current and former leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who were charged under terrorism statutes at the I-9 police station.
In addition to Gandapur, warrants were issued for former deputy speaker of the Punjab Assembly Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, Istehkam-e-Pakistan leader Aamer Mehmood Kiani, and PTI leader Raja Rashid Hafeez. The court also declared former PTI leader Umer Tanveer Butt an absconder due to his continuous absence from proceedings.
During the hearing, ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra rejected Gandapur’s bail petition, stating that relief cannot be granted without substantial justification. The defense attorney argued that Gandapur was unable to appear due to route closures, requesting another chance for him to present himself in court.
The judge noted that he had previously accommodated Gandapur but to no avail, and subsequently adjourned the hearing until October 3.
This warrant comes just before a significant PTI rally scheduled in Lahore, which Gandapur is expected to lead, despite the district administration imposing strict conditions on the event.
Meanwhile, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) recently granted Gandapur protective bail, instructing authorities to refrain from arresting him in any province until October 5.
The court issued this order following the arrest warrant from the Islamabad ATC, highlighting the petitioner’s concerns about politically motivated cases filed against him.
The PHC emphasized that every citizen has the right to know about the cases lodged against them prior to arrest, and that as a public representative, Gandapur cannot go into hiding.
Context: The incidents leading to these charges occurred on March 18, 2023, when PTI supporters clashed with authorities during Imran Khan’s court appearance.
The unrest resulted in injuries to over 50 police officers and significant damage to vehicles. Subsequently, a terrorism case was filed against PTI workers by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) for their involvement in the violence. The Islamabad police have also registered a FIR against party leaders for allegedly attacking law enforcement and vandalizing property.
