Islamabad District and Sessions Court has reissued an arrest warrant for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. This development follows his absence from a court session related to a 2016 arms and liquor case.
Details of the 2016 Arms Case
In October 2016, during a routine inspection, Islamabad police reportedly found several weapons and prohibited items in Gandapur’s vehicle near Bani Gala. The items seized included:
- Five Kalashnikov rifles
- One pistol with six magazines
- A bulletproof vest
- Bottles of alcohol
- Three tear gas shells
Chief Minister’s Defense
Gandapur has denied all charges, claiming possession of only two licensed Kalashnikov rifles. He argued the bottle labeled as liquor contained honey and described the charges as politically motivated.
Court Order Update
Judicial Magistrate Mubashir Hassan Chishti issued the arrest order to ensure Gandapur’s presence in court on September 17. No representative appeared for him at the latest hearing.
Defense Attorney’s Plea Denied
Gandapur’s lawyer, Raja Zahoor-ul-Hassan, sought a suspension of the arrest warrant. However, the magistrate denied the plea, stating, “If you present the accused, I will withdraw the warrant,” underscoring the requirement for Gandapur’s courtroom appearance.
Legal Charges Faced by Gandapur
Gandapur confronts charges under the Pakistan Penal Code and the Arms Ordinance, 1965. These charges carry potentially grave legal implications, including:
- Section 143: Punishment for joining unlawful assembly
- Section 144: Participation in unlawful assembly with a deadly weapon
- Section 145: Remaining in unlawful assembly after a dispersal order
- Section 440: Mischief causing death or injury readying oneself…
- Sections 13, 20, and 65: Pertaining to unlicensed firearms sales, transport bans, and possession of unlicensed weapons
