ATC starts proceedings to declare Gandapur ‘absconder’

ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad on Monday started proceedings against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to declare him as an absconder on alleged charges of vandalism in Islamabad during the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) protest.

ATC judge Tahir Abbas Supra heard the vandalism case against the PTI leaders who caused vandalism in the capital during a protest at D-Chowk in Islamabad.

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The ATC initiated proceedings against Gandapur for failing to appear in court. On September 21, the ATC declared Gandapur and others as absconders in the vandalism case registered against them at the I-9 Police Station.

On October 3, the ATC while maintaining the status quo of absconder against Gandapur had started proceedings against Tanvir Butt.

On October 4, the Peshawar High Court approved Gandapur’s transit bail in two cases lodged against him till October 25. The court while approving the transit bail, directed Gandapur to appear before the relevant courts.

The counsel for Gandapur had pleaded that his client wanted to appear before the courts but he feared police would arrest him.

Meanwhile, PTI counsel Sardar Masroof and others appeared before the court and filed an application on behalf of Faisal Javed seeking an exemption from appearing from today’s hearing. The judge approved the application and adjourned the hearing till November 21.