Non-bailable warrants for Gandapur issued

Judge recuses herself in liquor and weapons case

ISLAMABAD:

PTI's firebrand leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was supposed to address a party rally in Punjab's provincial capital on Saturday evening.

However, he was also supposed to appear before two courts in Islamabad on the same day in connection with two different cases.

Gandapur managed to somehow reach the rally venue in Lahore, though two hours after the conclusion of the rally but he could not make it to the courts, one of which issued his non-bailable arrest warrants while the presiding judge of the other recused herself.

Islamabad Judicial Magistrate Shaista Khan Kundi heard the case of liquor and illegal weapons filed against Gandapur in 2016.

The K-P chief minister's lawyer filed a request for exemption from his appearance, stating that Gandapur could not attend court due to prior commitments, adding that the state was using oppressive tactics by blocking all roads.

When the judge asked the counsel if the K-P chief minister does not have a helicopter, the lawyer stated that aviation authorities were not allowing Gandapur's helicopter to land. The court further inquired whether Gandapur was in Lahore, to which the lawyer replied, "He can't go to Lahore."

At one point, the magistrate ordered the journalists to leave the courtroom, directing the police to remove everyone. "I need to speak with the defense lawyer and the prosecutor," she said.

Later, the lawyer told the media that Magistrate Kundi excused herself from further hearing the case. The court has sent the case file to a session judge, and the next hearing will take place in the session judge's court on October 5.

Separately, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad issued non-bailable arrest warrants for PTI leaders Ali Amin Gandapur, Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, Raja Rashid Hafeez, and Aamir Mehmood Kiani in a case filed at the I-9 police station regarding vandalism and protests.

ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Supra was hearing the case filed under terrorism charges against PTI leaders. Due to their persistent absence, the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Gandapur, Abbasi, Hafeez, and Kiani, while Umar Tanveer Butt was declared a proclaimed offender.

During the proceedings, the court accepted Faisal Javed's request for exemption from attendance and adjourned the case until October 3.

A petition was filed in the Lahore High Court seeking to overturn all orders of detention imposed on PTI workers ahead of today's rally in Lahore.

The petition was submitted by former provincial assembly member Zainab Umair, represented by Advocate Azhar Siddique.

The petition argues that the detentions of PTI workers and leaders across Punjab are unlawful and unconstitutional. It contends that these detention orders are contrary to legal and constitutional provisions.

The petitioner has requested the court to annul the detention orders immediately and issue a directive for the release of all detained individuals.

Tensions have escalated in Lahore, as PTI gears up for the power show.

Yesterday, PTI supporters engaged in violent confrontations with police after the arrest of several party workers on the eve of their scheduled rally at Ring Road, Kahna.