The Islamabad District and Sessions Court on Monday ordered police to arrest Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur after he repeatedly failed to appear for hearings in a case related to possession and exhibition of weapons and liquor without a license.
Judicial Magistrate Mubashir Hasan presided over the hearing and expressed his displeasure over the non-compliance of court directives. The court was also informed that the investigating officer handling the case was absent during the proceedings.
The court further noted that SSP Operations had not submitted a compliance report in respect of the non-bailable arrest warrant issued earlier for Gandapur.
As a result, the hearing was adjourned to January 21, and the court reiterated its order for the law enforcement agencies to execute the arrest warrant and ensure the appearance of Ali Amin Gandapur in the next session.
The case arises from an incident that occurred on October 31, 2016 when Gandapur was booked by the Islamabad police.
Police reportedly found illegal firearms and alcohol inside Gandapur’s vehicle that was parked outside the residence of then PTI president Imran Khan after his arrival.
Gandapur, along with more than 300 PTI supporters, arrived in a convoy but was blocked by police in Banigala, who informed them of Section 144’s ban on rallies and gatherings. When the Gandapur supporters refused to disperse, the Police began to arrest them.
As tensions escalated, Gandapur fled the scene and ran towards a nearby forest. During a search of his vehicle, a sealed bottle of high-end whiskey, two submachine guns, ammunition, a bulletproof vest and two license plates were recovered. A man identified as Allah Nawaz, from Dera Ismail Khan, Gandapur’s hometown, was found inside the vehicle, holding a tear gas gun.
Police maintained the weapons were unlicensed, while Gandapur insists they were licensed firearms belonging to his security team. He further claimed that the whiskey bottle actually contained honey, disputing the police account.
