Arrest warrants out for PTI leaders

RAWALPINDI:

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in the garrison city has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for 25 PTI leaders and workers including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in the General Headquarters (GHQ) attack case.

ATC Judge Syed Amjad Ali Shah on Saturday ordered `Rawalpindi's central police officer (CPO) to form special teams to arrest the accused and present them in court on Tuesday, December 10.

The PTI leaders against whom arrest warrants were issued include Shibli Faraz, Zain Qureshi, Shehryar Afridi, Tahir Sadiq, Kanwal Shauzab, Azeemullah Khan, Zohaib Afridi and Umer Tanveer Butt.

The ATC issued this order due to failure of the accused to appear in court despite repeated notices.

The court on December 5 indicted former prime minister Imran Khan and over 100 other PTI leaders and workers in the case related to an attack on the GHQ following the arrest of Imran on May 9, 2023.

Imran Khan and other accused including National Assembly Leader of Opposition Omar Ayub, former Interior minister Sheikh Rashid, Sadaqat Abbasi, Raja Basharat and Zartaj Gul had attended the hearing.

During the hearing, Special Public Prosecutor Zaheer Shah had read out the charge-sheet in the presence of the accused on the court's directive.

The charges included rebellion, criminal conspiracy, terrorism, attempted murder, vandalism, and other offenses. All the accused, including the PTI founder, denied the charges.

The court later adjourned the hearing till December 10, directing the prosecution to present evidence.

It also dismissed Imran's petition challenging the court's jurisdiction. Prosecutor Shah argued that violent protests aimed at pressuring the government fall under terrorism.

He claimed the attack on the GHQ was intended to incite rebellion within the Pakistan Armed Forces and was part of an organized plan resembling those of terrorist organizations to achieve political goals.

According to Shah, military targets were identified before May 9. The attack on the GHQ was widely covered by international media, with Indian media leading the coverage.

He said in July 2023, the Punjab Home Department issued a report on the May 9 incidents, stating that the rioting resulted in an estimated loss of Rs1.66 billion, with 102 vehicles damaged and 26 buildings targeted in organized assaults.

He said the May 9 events were a direct attack on national security and state stability, constituting not only terrorism but an attempt to wage war against the state of Pakistan. The prosecutor further argued that challenging the court's jurisdiction after a delay of 19 months was a tactic to evade indictment.

He said damaging public property, looting, and arson fall under terrorism, as does creating chaos by paralyzing civilian life. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court dismissed the petition challenging its jurisdiction.