Islamabad Court Orders ⁢Arrest of KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in Liquor and ‍Arms Case

Magistrate Issues Non-Bailable Warrants After CM Fails to Appear for Statement

ISLAMABAD: ⁣A judicial magistrate in Islamabad has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, dismissing his plea for exemption from personal appearance ⁣in a long-standing case involving the alleged recovery of⁣ liquor and illegal arms. The⁤ order, issued by Judicial Magistrate Mubashir Hassan Chishti on Saturday, directs the relevant Station House Officer (SHO) to ensure Gandapur’s production in court.

The case, which has been pending for nearly eight years, dates ⁤back to October 2016. At that‍ time, Islamabad police claimed to have seized five Kalashnikov assault rifles, a pistol, six magazines, a bulletproof vest, alcohol, and three tear gas shells from a vehicle associated with the Pakistan ⁣Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader outside Bani Gala.

Gandapur has consistently ‍denied the allegations. He has maintained that he was traveling with two licensed Kalashnikov rifles and that a valid‍ arms ‍license was present in‍ the vehicle. Addressing the alleged ‍recovery of liquor, he ⁢asserted that the bottle in question contained honey, not alcohol.

During Friday’s hearing,the magistrate highlighted the protracted nature of the case,noting that it has remained unresolved for almost eight years.⁣ While ⁣the prosecution concluded the recording of witness statements in May 2024, the accused has yet to record his statement under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The court expressed its‍ frustration, stating that the accused had been given ample chance. ⁤It warned ‍that a verdict ⁣could be delivered in his absence if he failed to appear at the next hearing. “No⁣ further⁢ relief will be granted if the ⁤statement is not recorded by July 21,” the magistrate stated in his written order, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

The court also clarified that the Peshawar High Court‘s bail order‍ did not encompass the current case and did not preclude the issuance of arrest⁤ warrants by this court. The hearing has been adjourned until July‍ 21, a date by which Gandapur is expected to record his statement.