A local court in Islamabad on Monday declared two senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, the former Chief Minister (CM) of KP, Ali Amin Gandapur and Omar Ayub, absconders in cases linked to the party’s 2022 ‘Haqeeqi Azadi March’. The court also issued arrest warrants for both men, citing their continued absence from the court.
The order was passed by Judicial Magistrate Mubashir Hassan Chishti during hearings into two cases registered at the Bara Kahu police station.
Why were arrest warrants issued?
The court noted that Gandapur and Ayub had ignored repeated summons. According to the judge, neither of the absconders did not provide a reasonable explanation for their absence despite several opportunities.
The court had earlier initiated proceedings to declare the two proclaimed offenders. After they again failed to appear, the judge formally declared them absconders and ordered their arrest so they could be produced before the court.
What are the cases about?
The cases relate to alleged violations of law and order during the Haqeeqi Azadi March, a protest organised by the PTI in November 2022. The march was part of a wider campaign launched after PTI founder Imran Khan was removed from office through a no-confidence vote earlier that year.
Police have alleged that some leaders and supporters incited unlawful activities and obstructed officials during the protest. Defence lawyers have consistently rejected these claims, arguing that the cases are politically motivated.
Who else was named?
The court was informed that several other accused named in the same cases, including Imran Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and Zartaj Gul, had already been acquitted due to a lack of evidence. Following Monday’s order, further proceedings in the cases involving Gandapur and Ayub have been adjourned until their arrest and appearance before the court. The development adds to the growing legal challenges facing PTI leaders amid ongoing political tensions in the country.
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