An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has suspended the non-bailable arrest warrants against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. This suspension was announced following a legal submission by Gandapur’s lawyer, Muhammad Faisal Malik, at the Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism Court on Thursday.
Malik presented an order from the Peshawar High Court, which had previously granted Gandapur bail in all cases, leading to the suspension of the warrants. The court also halted proceedings to declare the chief minister a proclaimed offender.
Previously, the ATC had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Gandapur and other PTI leaders related to their alleged involvement in the May 9 violent protests, which targeted military installations, including the army’s General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. These riots erupted nationwide following the arrest of the former prime minister in a high-profile financial settlement case.
During these protests, numerous PTI workers and senior figures were arrested for their roles in the disturbances, which saw significant damage to both civil and military properties, including the Jinnah House and GHQ. The military labelled May 9 as a “Black Day” and opted to prosecute the involved protesters under the Army Act.
