Islamabad: An anti terrorism court on Monday directed authorities to produce PTI founder Imran Khan at the next hearing of the Federal Judicial Complex attack case on November 5, either physically or through video link.
Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra issued the order while hearing the case registered at Ramna Police Station against Imran and other PTI leaders over the March 2023 clashes.
The court also declared former federal ministers Farrukh Habib, Hammad Azhar and Murad Saeed, along with former senator Shibli Faraz, proclaimed offenders after they failed to appear.
A proclaimed offender is a person formally declared by a court to be evading proceedings after the prescribed process for securing their appearance. The designation is not a conviction in the underlying case.
The judge directed the relevant authorities to submit details of the four leaders’ assets.
Separately, the court issued non bailable arrest warrants for former Punjab Assembly deputy speaker Wasiq Qayyum and PTI provincial assembly member Hassan Khan Niazi.
Such warrants direct authorities to arrest and produce an accused before the court. Any request for bail must be considered through the relevant judicial process.
The case concerns clashes between police and PTI workers on March 18, 2023, when Imran arrived at the Federal Judicial Complex for a hearing in the Toshakhana case, concerning gifts received by public officeholders.
Islamabad police alleged that PTI workers attacked the complex and set fire to a police post. The party, in turn, accused police of shelling Imran’s vehicle.
Monday’s proceedings addressed the appearance of the accused and related court directions. No verdict on the attack allegations was reported.
Further proceedings were adjourned until November 5.
