A special anti-terrorism court has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in connection with three separate cases registered at the Sadiqabad, Wah Cantt and Naseerabad police stations following the protest held last year in November.
Those named in the warrants include former President Dr Arif Alvi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, Shahid Khattak, Khalid Khurshid, Faisal Amin, Wahab Alvi, Shehryar Riaz and Asad Qaiser.
Prosecutor Syed Zaheer Shah submitted a petition requesting that the proceedings be expedited and the accused be taken into custody. The court granted the request, fixed the hearing date for July 25 and ordered the issuance of arrest warrants.
Judicial staff have also issued notices to all the accused and their legal representatives. In addition, the police have formed special teams to carry out arrests and are expected to begin raids shortly.
The charges against the PTI leaders included vandalism, rioting, interference in government affairs and assaulting police personnel.
