Audio leaks case: Islamabad court issues non-bailable arrest warrant for Gandapur, again

• Judge orders police to arrest Gandapur, produce him before court. 
• Additional Sessions Judge Nasr Minallah presides over hearing.
• Proceedings for framing of charges adjourned until January 20.

A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Friday issued non-bailable arrest warrant against former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur in connection with an audio leak case.

The court has directed the police to arrest Gandapur and produce him before the court. Additional Sessions Judge Nasr Minallah Baloch presided over the hearing.

A suspect named in the case alongside Gandapur appeared in court. Due to Gandapur’s absence, the proceedings for the framing of charges were adjourned until January 20.

It is to be noted here that the case was registered at the Golra Police Station after an audio leak surfaced in which the KP chief minister was purportedly asking about the number of weapons, licences, and people.

The development adds to the legal woes of the firebrand PTI leader, who was recently ousted from KP's CM post, as the same court and magistrate issued his arrest warrant in the said case in September as well. 

Before this, multiple non-bailable arrest warrants have been issued against the former CM in other cases as well over his continued absence from court proceedings.

On November 17, a judicial magistrate issued the arrest warrant for Gandapur in a liquor and arms recovery case after he failed to appear before the court despite repeated summons.

The case was lodged against the PTI leader after the recovery of five Kalashnikov rifles, a pistol, six magazines, a bulletproof vest, three teargas shells, and bottles of alcohol in October 2016.

Gandapur, who was a provincial minister in KP back then, was charged under the illegal arms and anti-drugs laws after illicit arms and a bottle of liquor were allegedly recovered from his car.

Former KP chief minister, however, has repeatedly denied the allegations, insisting that the weapons were duly licensed and that the bottle described by police as alcohol actually contained honey.

The case has dragged on for nearly nine years, with proceedings repeatedly stalled due to the PTI leader’s absence from court hearings.