ATC issues non-bailable arrest warrants for Sohail Afridi, three other PTI leaders

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and three other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in a case registered at the Ramna Police Station.

The warrants were issued against Afridi, Meena Khan, Shahid Khattak and Shafi Jan, with the Anti-Terrorism Court directing the Ramna Police Station house officer (SHO) to arrest the accused and produce them before the court.

The latest development comes as PTI is preparing for a nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad on September 27, which Afridi has announced he will lead.

The four leaders have been active in PTI’s recent mobilisation efforts.

In August, Afridi was accompanied by Meena Khan, Shafi Jan and Shahid Khattak during efforts to mobilise supporters from Islamabad for the September 27 protest.

The three leaders had also participated in PTI protests and attempted to reach Adiala jail to meet party founder Imran Khan. Meena Khan, Shahid Khattak and Shafi Jan were among PTI leaders who joined a sit-in outside the jail after party leaders were denied access to Khan.

Other cases against Afridi, PTI leaders

The latest warrants come amid several legal cases against Afridi and other PTI leaders in Islamabad.

On Wednesday, an Islamabad ATC maintained arrest warrants for Afridi, Junaid Akbar and other accused in a separate case relating to the November 26 protest.

The court rejected exemption applications filed by accused who failed to appear and directed police to submit the challan. The hearing was adjourned until September 30.

The November 26 case was registered at Islamabad’s Margalla Police Station and relates to allegations of violence and arson during the PTI protest. According to police records cited in court reports, several FIRs have been registered against Afridi at different police stations in Islamabad. The court has also initiated proceedings to declare Afridi and other absent accused proclaimed offenders.

The latest proceedings therefore involve a separate case registered at Ramna police station, while the warrants maintained on Wednesday relate to the November 26 protest case registered at Margalla police station.

PTI’s September 27 protest

The developments come as PTI has intensified preparations for its September 27 protest and long march towards Islamabad.

Afridi has publicly announced that he will lead the mobilisation, while PTI has described the planned protest as a movement for the supremacy of the Constitution, rule of law and the release of Imran Khan.

The Islamabad High Court is separately hearing a petition challenging the planned protest.

On September 10, the IHC heard a petition filed by Islamabad citizen Waqas Ahmed, who argued that the planned protest could disrupt routine life, traffic and business activities in the capital.

The petition also raised concerns over the possible use of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government resources and machinery for the planned mobilisation.

The IHC postponed the hearing after initial hearing. The case is being heard separately from the criminal proceedings against Afridi and other PTI leaders.