An Islamabad district and sessions court on Saturday issued an arrest warrant for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in a case involving the recovery of liquor and illegal weapons.
The federal capital’s court directed the concerned authorities to arrest and produce Gandapur after rejecting the KP chief executive’s request for exemption from personal appearance.
At the commencement of the hearing, the judge granted the outspoken politician a final opportunity to record his statement under Section 342. The court also warned that a verdict might be issued in his absence, and failure to comply could result in the forfeiture of his right to record the statement.
The court instructed that Gandapur be presented before July 21 and emphasized that authorities must successfully execute the arrest order. The order stated that the case has been pending for eight years, with the prosecution having recorded witness testimonies since May of last year. Expressing displeasure over Gandapur’s absence from the hearing, the court noted that the KP CM was deliberately avoiding recording his statement.
It further clarified that the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) earlier ruling does not preclude the court from issuing arrest warrants in this matter. The hearing was subsequently adjourned until July 21.
This development occurs a week after KP Chief Minister Gandapur announced the launch of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s “do-or-die” protest movement from Lahore. The former ruling party had formally initiated its anti-government campaign, which, following directives from incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, is set to reach its “peak” by August 5.
