An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for multiple leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, in connection with riots that occurred on May 9, 2023.
ATC Judge Malik Ejaz Asif issued the warrants for Gandapur’s arrest in a case linked to the disturbances, which were sparked nationwide following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a £190 million settlement case.
Besides CM Gandapur, non-bailable arrest warrants were also issued for other PTI leaders, including Murad Saeed, Shibli Faraz, Shahbaz Gill, and retired Lieutenant Colonel Shabbir Awan. Former PTI members Shireen Mazari, Musarrat Jamshed Cheema, and Saad Jamil Abbasi were also named in the warrants.
The PTI leaders were implicated based on statements provided by suspects Wasiq Qayyum, Umer Tanveer Butt, and Sadaqat Abbasi.
Responding to the arrest warrants against CM Gandapur, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif criticized the federal government, accusing it of fabricating cases against PTI leaders. He pledged that legal action would be taken against all false charges leveled against PTI members.
Saif also highlighted alleged discrimination, pointing out the lack of action against Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s brothers, who are accused of embezzling billions from national funds.
