Non-bailable arrest warrants issued for Gandapur

ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has rejected the exemption pleas from attendance of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and PTI leader Aamir Mughal, issuing non-bailable arrest warrants for both.

The court has also summoned a written reply from the superintendent of Adiala Jail regarding the video link appearance of PTI founder Imran Khan. The cases relate to charges filed against Imran Khan and others at the Sangjani police station and I-9 police station.Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra presided over the hearing on Monday.

Ali Nawaz Awan, Wasiq Qayyum, Aamir Kiyani, and other accused appeared in court, while exemption pleas of KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur and Aamir Mughal were presented.During the hearing, Judge Sipra said that no exemption pleas would be accepted, emphasising that being out of the city is not a valid reason for absence.

The responsibility for attendance lies with the accused or the court.The judge remarked that arrest warrants for all the accused would be issued, and attendance is mandatory at the next hearing.

He further declared that non-bailable arrest warrants for all absent accused were being issued. He warned that if anyone fails to appear on July 8, regardless of illness or other excuses, they will be declared proclaimed offenders.After July 8, the hearings will take place on a day-to-day basis. If assurance is given about complete attendance at the next hearing, the court might reconsider the arrest warrants.Defence counsel sought one more chance, assuring that all accused would appear at the next hearing. Judge Sipra emphasised the need to conclude these cases and reiterated that absentees on July 8 would be declared proclaimed offenders. The judge noted that 30 days are not necessary to declare a court absconder as a proclaimed offender, stating that if the cases have merit, they will proceed.