RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) - An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Wednesday has issued arrest warrants for several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including former president Dr Arif Alvi and Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur in in connection with the November 2024 protest cases.
Other names include leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, former Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) chief minister Khalid Khurshid, former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Hammad Azhar and several other senior PTI leaders.
Special police teams have been formed to carry out the arrests following the court’s orders.
It is pertinent to mention here that on Tuesday, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore sentenced eight leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) -- including Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry, and Omar Sarfraz Cheema -- to 10 years in prison each for their involvement in the Sherpao Bridge arson and incitement case, related to the May 9 protests.
Khalid Qayyum, Riyaz Hussain, Ali Hassan and Afzal Azeem Pahat were among those who were sentence to imprisonment.
However, the court acquitted six individuals, including former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Hamza Azeem.
ATC Judge Arshad Javed delivered the verdict inside Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail under strict security measures. All the accused were present when the verdict was announced.
The case was registered at Sarwar Road Police Station, accused the defendants of inciting violence, delivering provocative speeches, and causing damage to public property, all falling under terrorism-related charges.
The court concluded the trial of 14 accused individuals. Of these, eight were sentenced to 10 years in prison each, while six were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
The prosecution presented testimony from 61 witnesses to support the charges.
The state’s case was argued by Prosecutor Abdul Jabbar Dogar.
The case pertains to the violent incidents, including arson and rioting, that occurred at Sherpao Bridge in Lahore on May 9, 2023, following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The FIR includes terrorism and other criminal charges.
This ruling follows a directive from the Supreme Court, which had ordered all trial courts to conclude May 9-related cases within four months. In compliance, the ATC conducted daily hearings to ensure timely judgment.
On the other hand, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Sargodha sentenced Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar to 10 years in prison in connection with the May 9 case.
The court announced a brief verdict, sentencing 70 accused from Sargodha. None of the accused, including Ahmad Khan Bhachar, were present in court at the time of the ruling.
Another provincial lawmaker of PTI, Ahmad Chattha, was among the party workers -- all handed 10-year jail term.
In the Mianwali riots and vandalism case, the court had previously granted exemption from appearance to 32 accused individuals, including Ahmad Khan Bhachar.