The warrants were issued by Judicial Magistrate Mubashir Hassan Chishti after Gandapur failed to appear in court. The court dismissed his plea for exemption from personal appearance and directed authorities to arrest and produce him at the next hearing.
The court adjourned the hearing until 22 July.
Earlier on Saturday, the magistrate issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Gandapur and ordered the relevant station house officer (SHO) to ensure his production.
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During Friday’s proceedings, the magistrate noted that the case has remained pending for nearly eight years. Although the prosecution completed recording witness statements in May 2024, Gandapur has yet to submit his own statement under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The case dates back to October 2016, when Islamabad police claimed they had recovered five Kalashnikov assault rifles, a pistol, six magazines, a bulletproof vest, a bottle of alcohol, and three tear gas shells from a vehicle belonging to the PTI leader parked outside Bani Gala.
Gandapur has consistently denied the allegations, stating that he was travelling with two licensed Kalashnikov rifles and that a valid arms licence was present in the vehicle. As for the alleged liquor recovery, he asserted that the bottle in question actually contained honey, not alcohol.