ATC moves to declare CM Gandapur proclaimed offender

The Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism Court has initiated proceedings to declare Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur a proclaimed offender due to his continuous absence in a case linked to vandalism and arson during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest in Islamabad on November 26.

The case against Gandapur was registered at Saddar Police Station, Hassan Abdal. Despite repeated summons, the chief minister has failed to appear before the court, therefore, a proclamation has been issued against him.

The court directed the Hassan Abdal police to ensure compliance with the proclamation and submit a report by January 21, 2025. It also warned that failure to appear in court by the specified date would result in Gandapur being officially declared a proclaimed offender. 

Earlier this month, Gandapur was among the 14 accused indicted in the GHQ attack case on charges related to the May 9, 2023 incidents. Besides him, those charged included PTI leaders Shibli Faraz, former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, former minister Shehryar Afridi, and Kanwal Shozab.