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       ISLAMABAD: A judicial magistrate on Saturday deferred further action on the non-bailable arrest warrant issued against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, after the Peshawar High Court (PHC) extended the blanket cover to him in all the criminal cases.

       Subsequently, judicial magistrate Mubashir Hassan complying with the PHC order deferred action on his arrest warrant and adjourned the hearing.

       The arrest warrant had been issued for CM Gandapur over his absence at several hearings.

       The case, involving the alleged recovery of illegal arms and liquor, was registered at Bharakahu police station.

       However, he did not attend the court proceedings. Instead his lawyer, Raja Zahoor-ul-Hassan, appeared on his behalf, submitting protective bail orders issued by the PHC.

       The PHC ruling has explicitly prohibited the arrest of CM Gandapur in any criminal case during the period of his protective bail. The high court earlier at a hearing of his petition on Oct 22 issued the blanket cover to him in all the criminal cases.

       His counsel argued before the PHC that being the chief executive of the province, CM Gandapur required to frequently travel to Islamabad and he could not pursue the legal course as the number of FIRs registered against him were not in his knowledge.

       In its order, the PHC restrained all the law enforcement agencies, stating “the petitioner [CM KP] shall not be arrested in any criminal case/FIR, which has been registered against him till date.”

       While the restraining order lapsed on Nov 14, the PHC extended the relief till Dec 17 on an application filed by the KP chief minister.

       Upon reviewing the recent directive, judicial magistrate Mubashir Hassan instructed that the warrant be handled as per the PHC decision.

       The court then adjourned the matter, scheduling the next hearing for Dec 18.

       Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2024