An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad has issued arrest warrants for former president Arif Alvi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, and 50 other PTI leaders in connection with the November 26 protest case. The warrants were issued after the accused failed to appear before the court, with 41 new names added to the list on Thursday, bringing the total to 50. The case (FIR No. 1193) was registered at Karachi Company police station, part of a broader crackdown on PTI leaders following last year’s protests.
Among those facing arrest are senior PTI figures, including Shibli Faraz, Faisal Javed, Murad Saeed, Omar Ayub, Hammad Azhar, and Sher Afzal Marwat. The ATC judge, Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain, ordered their immediate arrest and production in court. The warrants highlight the ongoing legal troubles for PTI leadership, many of whom are already facing multiple cases linked to the May 9 and November 26 protests.
A total of 32 cases were registered in Rawalpindi Division over the November 24 and 26 protests, including an FIR in Taxila that names Bushra Bibi in a constable murder case. The protests erupted following Imran Khan’s arrest, leading to clashes between PTI supporters and law enforcement. The latest warrants suggest a continued crackdown on PTI leadership, with legal proceedings intensifying ahead of potential elections.
The issuance of arrest warrants against such a large number of PTI leaders, including a former president and sitting chief minister, underscores the deepening political-legal confrontation in Pakistan. With many PTI leaders already in jail or absconding, these developments could further escalate tensions between the party and state institutions. The case will be closely watched as it may set a precedent for future legal actions against opposition figures.