ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC), on Wednesday, issued perpetual arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in two cases registered against them under anti-terrorism charges for allegedly attacking police and creating unrest at Federal Judicial Complex (FJC), during the appearance of PTI chairman Imran Khan in Toshakhana case on March 18.

ATC judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain issued the warrants while hearing the case for Murad Saeed, Hammad Azhar, Ali Nawaz Awan, Shibli Faraz, Omar Ayub Khan, Ali Amin Gandapur, Hassan Niazi, Umer Sultan, Zulfi Bukhari, Muhammad Asim, and others for not appearing before the court, despite issuance of repeated summons to them.

The court also issued arrest warrants for Farrukh Habib who had recently parted ways with the PTI.

The court issued orders to arrest these PTI leaders and produce them before the court.

The city police had registered two different first information reports (FIRs) at the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and the Golra Police Station, claiming that the PTI leaders and workers attacked the police and created unrest outside the FJC on March 18.

The FIRs against the PTI chief Imran Khan and other leaders included Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and sections 148 (rioting, armed with a deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 380 (theft in dwelling house, etc), 395 (punishment for dacoity), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage to amount of one hundred rupees), 440 (mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt), and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023