Ali Amin Gandapur, a leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party, has been sent to jail for a six-day judicial remand following his arrest in DI Khan. Gandapur faced separate cases filed against him by the Islamabad and Punjab police. He was produced before the judicial magistrate, Mazhar Ali, who rejected the two cases registered by the DI Khan police against him. The magistrate also denied the plea of the Islamabad and Punjab police for physical custody of the PTI leader in separate cases registered against him. The judicial magistrate directed the representatives of both Islamabad and Punjab police to complete the required documentation for further hearing proceedings.
The court premises were heavily guarded due to the presence of Gandapur’s brother, former provincial minister Faisal Amin, Tehsil Mayor Umar Amin, and a large number of PTI workers. Gandapur was arrested after hours-long drama outside the Peshawar High Court’s DI Khan Bench building where he remained for several hours along with his supporting lawyers and associates.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Mansoor Arshad has imposed Section 144 CrPC in the district to ensure a peaceful environment in the district. The order bans unlawful assembly of five or more persons in public places, pillion-riding, and use of tinted glasses in vehicles for 11 days. The order aimed at ensuring public safety by preventing breach of the peace came into force immediately and will remain enforced from April 6 to 16.
The PTI leadership strongly condemned the arrest, terming the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government in the Centre a “fascist” administration.
During the hearing, the court of judicial magistrate-1 quashed the two cases lodged against Mr. Gandapur in Dera Ismail Khan. Bhakkar and the Islamabad police requested the judicial magistrate to extradite Mr. Gandapur, which was rejected by the court. On Thursday, Mr. Gandapur was shifted to an unknown place after he was arrested on the premises of the Peshawar High Court’s DI Khan bench. Reports suggest that the former federal minister for Kashmir affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan was arrested from outside the high court premises as he had taken refuge in court to avoid arrest. A huge contingent of police was present outside court to arrest him since morning.
Overall, the situation seems to be tense, with strong opposition from PTI and heavy security measures in place. The case against Gandapur will continue, and the legal process will determine his fate in the coming days.
