Court issues non-bailable arrest warrants for Gandapur in liquor case

ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court of the federal capital on Wednesday dismissed a plea seeking exemption from appearance for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and issued non-bailable arrest warrants against him in a case pertaining to alleged possession of illegal arms and liquor.

Civil judge Shaista Khan Kundi directed the Barakahu station house officer (SHO) to arrest Gandapur and produce him before the court.

Judge Kundi said the suspect was called thrice since morning and he still did not show up.Assistant to Gandapur’s lawyer Fatahullah Burki said the chief minister could not turn up before the court due to a flood situation in the province.

On the other hand, Raja Zahoorul Hasan, Gandapur’s counsel, said he would submit a medical report about the KP chief minister as he was unwell. “Ali Amin Gandapur is suffering from pain in his leg and doctor has advised him to take rest for one week,” he said.

Expressing bewilderment over the contrasting statements, the judge remarked: “You said he was not doing well, while your assistant said it was due to flood that he could not appear.”Judge Kundi said she previously gave relief to the KP chief minister on the last hearing as well and adjourned the hearing for a long time as requested.

The lawyer said their acquittal plea was still pending before the court. The judge replied acquittal would not be granted, as per the Supreme Court ruling, if the case was on its last stages; hence, it would be disposed of on merit.

She added it was for the eighth time that a statement could not be recorded under Section 342. “Then you say that you are not given a free trial,” she maintained.The lawyer said it was injustice [to not grant him acquittal] as the suspect was a provincial chief minister. The court said if the suspect was innocent, he should be brave and face the trial.

The hearing was then adjourned till Thursday (today).The case was lodged against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader after recovery of five Kalashnikov rifles, a pistol, six magazines, a bullet-proof vest, three teargas shells, and bottles of alcohol in October, 2016.

Separately, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of a case against the KP chief minister pertaining to an attack on the Judicial Complex, Islamabad, on the basis of a medical certificate.

Submitting the medical certificate, Raja Zahoorul Hasan, Gandapur’s counsel, said his client could not appear before the court as his health condition was not well.

“Ali Amin Gandapur is suffering from pain in his leg and doctor has advised him to take rest for one week,” he said in response to the judge’s query why Gandapur did not appear for the hearing despite his lawyer’s taking time for Thursday.Hasan said the KP chief minister was on a visit to review the flood situation in his province, when suddenly his foot slipped.