Lahore, April 22, 2025: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and four other senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in connection with a violent protest and clashes with police during a PTI demonstration last year.
The warrants were issued on the request of Lahore police, who informed the court that the accused had repeatedly failed to cooperate with the investigation into the October 5, 2024 protest. ATC Administrative Judge Manzar Ali Gul approved the request and authorized the issuance of non-bailable warrants.
Other PTI leaders named in the case include former federal minister Hammad Azhar, Saeed Sindhu, and Shahbaz Ahmed. The case is registered at the Masti Gate police station.
The protest in question took place in Lahore as part of a broader PTI campaign against the federal government. The party accused the central administration of political victimization, interference in provincial matters, and undermining democratic rights. As PTI supporters marched through the capital, confrontations with law enforcement turned violent, with reports of clashes near key sites including China Chowk.
Chief Minister Gandapur led the protest convoy but mysteriously vanished during the peak of the unrest. CCTV footage later showed him entering Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad before reportedly leaving disguised in civilian clothes. His sudden disappearance triggered confusion and concern within party ranks and the public.
In response, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly passed an emergency resolution condemning what it described as a raid on K-P House and demanded Gandapur’s immediate release, presuming he had been detained. PTI leaders, including Asad Qaiser, issued ultimatums, threatening nationwide protests if Gandapur was not presented within 24 hours.
However, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi denied any arrest, stating that Gandapur had gone into hiding on his own. This assertion further inflamed political tensions and fueled widespread speculation.
Gandapur resurfaced the following day in Peshawar, where he addressed the K-P Assembly with a fiery speech. He accused the federal government of launching a targeted crackdown on PTI, violating provincial autonomy, and attempting to dismantle the party’s political presence. Defending the protest, he vowed continued resistance against what he termed “federal overreach.”
