ATC also orders blocking of passports of Omar Ayub and Zartaj Gul in connection with last year’s November 26 protest
PTI leaders (from left) Zartaj Gul, Sheikh Waqas and Omar Ayub. Photo: Files
An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad issued an arrest warrant for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Sheikh Waqas Akram and ordered authorities to block the passports of PTI leaders Omar Ayub and Zartaj Gul in connection with the cases related to the November 26, 2024 protests.
According to Express newsJustice Tahir Abbas Supra presided over the hearing and directed the relevant departments to block the passport of the two PTI leaders and directed that a compliance report be submitted to the court. The court also issued summons to all concerned persons and adjourned the case till December 3.
On November 26 last year, authorities dispersed a PTI protest organized with the stated aim of forcing the federal government to release party founder Imran Khan and roll back a constitutional amendment by launching a heavy-handed crackdown a day after the protesters entered Islamabad.
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Earlier this year, the Ministry of Communications revealed in the National Assembly that the government suffered a loss of Rs151 million due to the closure of highways during that protest.
Presenting the details of the losses caused by the opposition party’s protests in a written reply to the lower house of parliament, Communications Minister Aleem Khan said the highways were closed due to law and order, noting that intelligence reports indicated that protesters, armed with sticks and slingshots, were planning to disturb the peace and cause damage to public property.
IHC summons officials in PTI founder’s jail ban case
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notices to officials in a contempt of court petition filed over the rejection of a meeting with the PTI founder. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir was hearing the case on a petition filed by Salman Akram Raja’s lawyer. Raja told the court that despite a written order, he was not allowed to meet the PTI founder last Tuesday.
Raja requested that the Deputy Registrar (Legal) be asked to accompany him to the jail to ensure that the meeting could be held. However, the judge rejected the request, saying: “No, we cannot send an officer with you; we will issue notices and the case will proceed in accordance with the law.”
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Calling the assistant attorney general to the lectern, Justice Tahir questioned why the meeting was blocked despite court orders. “If Salman Akram Raja cannot meet his client in jail, how will he help us in the Twitter (X) case?” he remarked.
The Assistant Attorney General said he would refer the matter to the appropriate authorities. The court subsequently issued notices to the Home Secretary, the Superintendent of Prisons and other officials, asking them for a written response.
