An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Saturday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and other PTI leaders in a case pertaining to the attack on army’s General Headquarters (GHQ) during May 9 violent protests last year. ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah ordered the Rawalpindi city police officer (CPO) to produce all the suspects before the court on December 10. Those named in the warrants included PTI leaders Shibli Faraz, Shehryar Afridi, Zain Qureshi, Tahir Sadiq and Taimoor Masood. The development came two days after jailed PTI founder Imran Khan along with dozens of other PTI workers were indicted in the GHQ attack case related to May 9 violent protests. A total of 100 people, including former interior minister Sheikh Rashid, were indicted in the GHQ attack case – which was registered at RA Bazar Police Station. However, Imran among other indicted leaders denied charges against them. Over 143 individuals, including Khan, were named as accused in the case, while 23, including Zulfi Bukhari, Shahbaz Gill and Murad Saeed, were listed as fugitives. Additionally, all accused have been prohibited from travelling abroad. At least 70 PTI leaders were accused of planning the May 9 events and inciting the workers and supporters to attack military and government installations following the arrest of the ousted prime minister by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Separately, Gandapur has clarified that no decision has been made regarding civil disobedience movement, as we negotiations with the government are yet to be held. Speaking to the media in Dera Ismail Khan, Gandapur stated that discussions with the government are yet to be held, and the decision to initiate civil disobedience has not yet been taken. “We are currently engaged in talks for the sake of the country. If the government refuses to engage in dialogue, our movement will continue regardless,” Gandapur said, dismissing any rumours about an imminent civil disobedience campaign.
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