An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Wednesday issued arrest warrants for several senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in connection with cases stemming from the November protest.
Among those named are Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and former President Arif Alvi. Other PTI leaders facing arrest include MNA Shahid Khattak, ex-GB Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid, Faisal Amin Khan Gandapur, Wahab Alvi, Hammad Azhar, Omar Ayub Khan, Shehryar Riaz, and Asad Qaiser.
The arrest orders are linked to three cases associated with the November 26 protest. Aleema Khan and Azam Swati are also listed in the same cases. Following the court’s directive, special police teams have been formed to apprehend the suspects.
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In a separate development, an ATC in Lahore sentenced several PTI leaders—Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, and Senator Ejaz Chaudhry—to 10 years in prison in connection with the May 9 riots involving arson and vandalism. Shah Mahmood Qureshi, however, was acquitted.
The court delivered its verdict after multiple hearings held at Kot Lakhpat Jail and concluded that eight individuals, including former Punjab Governor Umar Sarfraz Cheema, were guilty and handed them 10-year prison terms. Five others, including Hamza Azim and Qureshi, were acquitted of charges related to the Sherpao Bridge unrest following Imran Khan’s arrest in May 2023.
