By Asif Naveed
ISLAMABAD; An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Wednesday issued arrest warrants for eight Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Asad Qaiser, Shibli Faraz, Omar Ayub, and Ali Nawaz Awan, in a terrorism-related case.
The hearing, presided over by ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, noted that none of the accused appeared before the court despite repeated summons. Expressing displeasure over their continued absence, the judge ordered authorities to arrest and produce them before the court by November 11. The proceedings were adjourned until the next hearing date.
The case, registered by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), accuses the PTI leaders of involvement in activities that fall within the ambit of terrorism offences under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
In a related development, Additional District and Sessions Judge Nasrullah Baloch issued non-bailable arrest warrants for former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in the audio leak case.
The judge expressed frustration over Gandapur’s repeated failure to appear for indictment proceedings, noting that neither he nor his legal representative attended the session. Due to his absence, the indictment could not be completed, and the case was adjourned until December 5. The judge directed the police to arrest and present Gandapur before the court on the next date.
The case against Gandapur was lodged at Golra Police Station after an alleged audio recording surfaced in which he was purportedly discussing the number of weapons, licences, and participants for a PTI protest. The leaked conversation prompted a police inquiry into the intent and context of his remarks.
