A local court in the federal capital on Monday declared Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Ali Amin Gandapur and Omar Ayub proclaimed offenders in cases linked to the Haqeeqi Azadi March, issuing perpetual arrest warrants due to their repeated failure to appear before the court.
The orders were issued by Senior Civil Judge Mubashir Hassan Chishti while hearing two cases registered at Bara Kahu police station. The court observed that despite multiple summonses, both accused had remained absent without justification.
During the previous hearing, the court had already instructed authorities to begin proceedings to declare Gandapur a proclaimed offender. As the accused continued to evade appearance, the court formally labelled both leaders as absconders and directed law enforcement agencies to arrest them.
The court was informed that several other co-accused, including PTI founder Imran Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and Zartaj Gul, have already been acquitted in the same cases.
The FIRs stem from alleged violations during the Haqeeqi Azadi March, a PTI-led protest held in November 2022 following the removal of the Imran Khan government. Two separate cases were lodged at the Bara Kahu police station against Gandapur and other party leaders.
Earlier, The District and Sessions Court in Islamabad has declared former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur a proclaimed offender after he repeatedly failed to appear before the court.
The decision came during the hearing of a case concerning the seizure of liquor and weapons, in which the court issued arrest warrants against Gandapur. Judicial Magistrate Mubashir Hassan Chishti presided over the proceedings.
Ali Amin Gandapur did not appear in court on the scheduled date, prompting the magistrate to take strict action. The court delivered a verbal order declaring the former minister a proclaimed offender due to his continuous absence.
The cases against Gandapur are registered at Bara Kahu police station in Islamabad. The court’s action underscores the seriousness of the legal proceedings and the judiciary’s insistence on accountability, even for high-profile political figures.
