A lawyer for former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur informed a court in Islamabad on Saturday that his client is already in custody. The audio leak case against him was then pushed back to November 27.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Hakim Khan Bukhari heard the matter at the District and Sessions Courts in Islamabad. Gandapur’s counsel, Raja Zahoor, attended, and co-accused Farooq was also present. Zahoor said Gandapur had been due in court that day but had been detained beforehand, adding that fresh arrest warrants would serve no purpose given his custody.
Witness statements stalled as hearing adjourned
Because Gandapur was not available, the court could not record witness statements, so it moved the hearing to November 27. The case was registered at Golra police station in Islamabad, and legal proceedings against him are ongoing.
Gandapur’s last sighting during PTI long march
According to the account provided, Gandapur was last seen in public around the time Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf launched its long march, before governor’s rule and an emergency were imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. His convoy turned back while trying to join the march, and he reportedly then dropped out of public view.
After the emergency and governor’s rule were introduced, PTI claimed that several of its lawmakers had been arrested in a crackdown on party leaders. Two days ago, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq issued production orders for lawmakers Mian Ghaus Muhammad, Adil Khan Bazi and Muhammad Jamal Ahsan Khan so they could attend a lower house session. Earlier, on October 14, he had issued similar orders for Sanaullah Khan Masti Khel and Dawar Khan Kundi under Rule 108 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007.
