LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Tuesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and four senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in connection with a violent protest staged in October last year.
The warrants were issued after Lahore police submitted to the court that the accused had consistently refused to cooperate with the investigation into the October 5 demonstration, during which PTI supporters allegedly clashed with police, causing injuries and damage to public property.
ATC Administrative Judge Manzar Ali Gul approved the police’s request, issuing the warrants against Gandapur, former federal minister Hammad Azhar, Saeed Sindhu, Shahbaz Ahmed, and another unnamed party leader. The case was registered at the city’s Masti Gate police station.
The protest in question was part of PTI’s nationwide campaign against the federal government, then accused by the party of orchestrating politically motivated arrests, suppressing opposition voices, and manipulating state institutions. Tensions had already been simmering for weeks before the October 5 demonstration turned volatile.
One of the most dramatic moments during the protest came when CM Gandapur, who had led a convoy from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Lahore, mysteriously disappeared from the scene during the clashes. CCTV footage later showed him entering the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad before allegedly changing clothes and leaving the premises—sparking widespread speculation about whether he had been detained or had gone into hiding.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly reacted swiftly, passing an emergency resolution condemning what it termed a “raid” on the provincial guesthouse and demanding Gandapur’s immediate release. PTI leaders issued fiery statements and threatened countrywide protests if their chief minister was not produced within 24 hours.
However, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi later told the media that Gandapur had not been taken into custody and had instead “disappeared of his own accord.” The federal government’s denial added to the confusion and deepened the mistrust between the two sides.
Gandapur re-emerged the following day in Peshawar, addressing the KP Assembly with a combative speech. He accused the federal government of weaponising law enforcement to suppress PTI and undermining provincial autonomy.
While the October protest was framed by PTI as a peaceful demonstration for democratic rights, the police have treated it as a case of orchestrated violence. According to the FIR, PTI supporters attacked police personnel, resisted arrest, and vandalised government property in multiple areas of Lahore.
Tuesday’s development comes amid a broader crackdown on PTI’s leadership, with several other party figures facing charges ranging from incitement to sedition. Legal experts say the issuance of non-bailable warrants against a sitting chief minister could set the stage for a constitutional tug-of-war between Islamabad and Peshawar.
It remains unclear whether CM Gandapur will voluntarily appear before the court or defy the summons, potentially inviting further legal and political escalation.
The PTI leadership has yet to release a formal response to the warrants. However, sources within the party suggest that legal teams are preparing to challenge the move, possibly arguing that the case is politically motivated.
Observers say this episode underscores Pakistan’s deepening institutional rifts, particularly the breakdown in coordination between provincial and federal authorities. With general elections still looming over the horizon, such confrontations are likely to intensify.
