Non-Bailable Arrest Warrants Issued for 4 PTI Leaders Including Sohail Afridi
ISLAMABAD (Qudrat Daily): An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Provincial Education Minister Meena Khan, MNA Shahid Khattak, and Provincial Information Minister Shafi Jan.
The court, while issuing orders for the arrest of all four PTI leaders, directed the SHO of Ramna Police Station to arrest the accused and produce them before the court.
It is noteworthy that PTI has announced a countrywide protest on September 27.
According to sources, during the hearing of case 975/24 registered at Islamabad’s Ramna Police Station, the court reviewed the attendance of all four accused and matters related to the case.
After the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the accused, the police has been assigned the responsibility of arresting them.
The court made it clear that the police, while implementing the court orders, should arrest the accused and produce them in court.
Following the court’s orders regarding the case registered at Ramna Police Station, the police has started action to arrest all four accused.
It may be noted that this case was registered in connection with the protests and demonstrations held by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the federal capital Islamabad in 2024.
PTI had given a call for protest in Islamabad on November 24, 2024, for the release of founder Imran Khan and other demands, after which workers and convoys reached the capital.
During the protest, when attempts were made to reach D-Chowk, clashes broke out between police and protesters, while incidents of alleged vandalism, damage to government property, and violation of Section 144 were also reported at various locations.
Police arrested numerous protesters and registered cases at various police stations in Islamabad, including the case at Ramna Police Station.
PTI’s September 27 Protest
This development comes at a time when PTI has accelerated preparations for a protest and long march towards Islamabad on September 27.
The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has announced to lead this protest movement, while the party has described the proposed protest as a movement for the supremacy of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the release of Imran Khan.
On the other hand, a separate hearing is underway in the Islamabad High Court on a petition filed against the proposed protest.
On September 10, the Islamabad High Court heard a petition filed by Islamabad citizen Waqas Ahmed. The petitioner argued that the proposed protest could affect routine life, traffic, and business activities in the federal capital.
The petition also expressed the apprehension that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s resources and official machinery could potentially be used for the proposed protest.
The Islamabad High Court, after the initial hearing, adjourned further proceedings in the case.
