ISLAMABAD: Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Tahir Abbas Supra on Tuesday issued a written order for non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
The judge warned that defendants absent on July 8 would be declared fugitives, emphasizing that the usual 30-day period was not mandatory for declaring someone a fugitive.
Ali Nawaz Awan, Wasif Qayyum, Amir Kiani and others appeared in court, while exemption pleas were filed on behalf of Chief Minister Gandapur and Amir Mughal.
The court expressed dissatisfaction with Gandapur’s repeated absences since April 2024, stating that warrants would be issued for all absent defendants.
“The situation has become a spectacle where one defendant appears while two do not. We are issuing arrest warrants for all absent defendants,” remarked Judge Supra.
“These cases must be concluded, which will ultimately benefit you,” he added.
The judge assured that if the cases have merit, they will proceed, otherwise, they will be dismissed and daily hearings will commence after July 8. A day earlier, the court had rejected Gandapur’s exemption plea and issued his non-bailable arrest warrants. The court adjourned further hearing of the case until July 8.