Court also declares other PTI leaders declared offenders due to repeated absence from hearings
KP CM Sohail Afridi. Photo: File
An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday upheld the arrest warrants of Sohail Afridi in a case related to the killing of a police constable during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) protest on October 4, 2024, and ordered the authorities to arrest and produce him before the court.
The court before ATC judge Tahir Abbas Sipra also declared former opposition leader Omar Ayub, Amir Mughal, Hafeezur Rehman and other accused as declared offenders due to their continued absence from the trial.
During the hearing, PTI leader Azam Swati appeared before the court. Noting Afridi’s repeated non-appearance, the court upheld his arrest warrants and directed the law enforcement agencies to ensure that he is arrested and produced before the court.
Read more: Islamabad court issues non-bailable warrants for CM Afridi
Meanwhile, the court continued the case against Swati and recorded another prosecution witness. After the testimony, the court adjourned further proceedings until 22 June.
The case was registered at Islamabad’s Noon Police Station in connection with PTI’s October 4, 2024 protest in which a police officer was killed.
Last week, the District and Sessions Court of Islamabad upheld CM Afridi’s non-releasable arrest warrants in a case related to alleged misleading allegations against state institutions and attempts to malign their reputation.
The court also directed the authorities to arrest the accused and produce him before the court. Several arrest warrants have previously been issued for the chief minister in the case.
