ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) faced fresh legal setbacks on Tuesday as an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad ordered the blocking of passports belonging to PTI leaders Omar Ayub and Zartaj Gul, while also issuing a non-bailable arrest warrant for the party’s Information Secretary, Sheikh Waqas Akram, in the Sangjani rally case.
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra directed authorities to submit a compliance report after blocking the passports and adjourned the hearing until December 3.
The case stems from a PTI power show held in September 2024 near Sangjani, demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. Last month, the same court had issued warrants for Ayub, Gul, and Akram for repeatedly failing to appear before the court.
The decision further complicates PTI’s legal troubles, as its top leadership, including Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and Yasmin Rashid, remains imprisoned on charges related to the May 9 riots and other cases.
IHC Issues Notices Over Denial of Meeting with Imran Khan
In a related development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notices to the Interior Secretary, Adiala Jail Superintendent, and other officials in response to a contempt of court plea filed by PTI’s Salman Akram Raja. The plea alleged non-compliance with court orders allowing a meeting between Raja and Imran Khan in jail.
During the hearing, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir questioned how Raja could assist his client if he was denied access. The judge expressed displeasure over the failure to follow court orders and warned that action would be taken under the law.
The assistant attorney general informed the court that the previous order had been conveyed but assured that relevant authorities would be informed again. The court then adjourned the case after issuing formal notices.
