ISLAMABAD: Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra issued arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders Omar Ayub, Sheikh Waqas Akram and Zartaj Gul in the Sangjani Jalsa case and ordered the arrest of the three and their production in court. During the hearing on Monday, the court rejected Omar Ayub’s request for exemption from appearance.
Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra remarked that all these accused have not appeared in this case even once, so the court has no option but to arrest them now. Sardar Muhammad Shabbir Hussain Khan, Amna Ali and Murtaza Tori Advocate appeared on behalf of the PTI leaders. The court adjourned further hearing of the case till 20 October. It should be noted that a case has been registered against the PTI leaders under the Anti-Terrorism Act in the Sangjani Jalsa case, in which the court took strict action and issued arrest warrants due to their continuous absence.
In the hearing of the diplomatic passport case, Judicial Magistrate Ahmed Shahzad Gondal granted the application for exemption from the presence to Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir Sardar Tanveer Ilyas and summoned the witnesses for the next hearing. The further hearing of the case will be held on 20 October. Due to the unavailability of Sardar Tanveer Ilyas during the hearing, the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses could not be recorded. The court directed that the witnesses be summoned again for the next hearing so that the prosecution evidence can be recorded. The court adjourned the further hearing of the case till 20 October.
In Azadi March case, Judicial Magistrate Mubashir Hassan Chishti adjourned the hearing against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, former Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, former Federal Minister Amir Mahmood Kiani and other PTI leaders until 6 November. The case was heard by Judicial Magistrate Mubashir Hassan Chishti. During the hearing, Ali Amin Gandapur and other leaders did not appear in the court, however, their lawyer Raja Zahoor-ul-Hassan was present in the court. The court adjourned further hearing of the case until November 6. It should be noted that two cases have been registered against PTI leaders during the Azadi March in Bara Kahu police station.
In vandalism case during long march, Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra has cancelled the warrants against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and former Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser due to his appearance. During the hearing, Asad Qaiser appeared in the court along with his lawyer Ayesha Khalid, upon which the court cancelled his arrest warrants. The court had issued his arrest warrants due to Asad Qaiser’s absence at the previous hearing. The case has been registered by the CTD police station. Asad Qaiser, while talking to the media outside the judicial complex, said the pressure on the judiciary has increased after the 26th Constitutional Amendment, however, the PTI will continue its constitutional and political struggle. Asad Qaiser said the documents of the 26th Constitutional Amendment were not available with the Law Minister and it is feared that further changes will be made in the 27th Amendment. He added that the legal community can play a role against this constitutional amendment.
In the Tarnol Jalsa case Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain of Islamabad’s Anti-Terrorism Court No. 1 adjourned the hearing against PTI workers due to the non-appearance of the accused. During the hearing, several workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf did not appear in the court. The court postponed the indictment proceedings due to the unavailability of the accused and ruled that the accused will be indicted at the next hearing on November 16.
In yet another case, Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra adjourned the hearing of the protest and Azadi March cases against the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and other leaders. During the hearing, arrest warrants were issued for three PTI workers for three consecutive absences. The hearing of case number 243 was adjourned without action till November 5, the hearing of the Bara Kahu Azadi March case at Thana was adjourned till November 12, the hearing of the CTD case at Thana was adjourned till November 11.
In the Shehzad Town case, some PTI workers including Azam Swati appeared in court. The court adjourned further hearing till October 31. Cases have been registered against PTI leaders in various police stations under terrorism provisions, including allegations of protests, sit-ins and alleged damage to government property.
In a separate hearing, District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka’s court issued a notice of re-summoning the accused Director Anti-Corruption Establishment Siddiq Anjum in alleged social media campaign against Judge Humayun Dilawar due to his absence in the pre-arrest bail application. The hearing was adjourned until 8 October.
