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       ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad on Monday initiated the process of dec-laring Khyber Pakhtun-khwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur a proclaimed offender due to his continued non-appearance in the court.

       Despite issuance of his earlier arrest warrants, Mr Gandapur did not comply with the court summons, leading to the initiation of legal proceedings to declare him a proclaimed offender.

       The KP chief minister is facing charges of inciting public to violence outside the Federal Courts Complex following the ouster of PTI government in 2022.

       His counsel Raja Zahoorul Hassan requested the court to exempt his personal attendance as he was unable to appear.

       ATC judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, on the other hand, reminded the lawyer that Mr Gandapur has skipped the hearing several times and he did not comply with the warrants as well.

       Subsequently, he ordered the prosecution to issue his proclamation.

       Meanwhile, the court granted exemption to another PTI leader, Faisal Javed, in the same case. Mr Javed had requested the court to exempt him from personal appearance.

       The court accepted his request and adjourned the hearing till November 21.

       Published in Dawn, October 22th, 2024