ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has ordered the blocking of the passports of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and 24 other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers in connection with a case registered at Kohsar Police Station.
According to ARY News, ATC Judge Abu Al-Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain issued the order after police requested that the passports of the nominated suspects be blocked.
The court directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to block the passports of the accused until further orders.
Those named in the court order include KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Asad Qaiser, Shahram Khan Tarakai, Junaid Akbar, Shahid Khattak, Omar Ayub, Babar Saleem, Yousaf Wazir, Shah Ahad, Sher Ali Arbab, Iqbal Afridi and Dr Amjad.
The list also includes PTI leaders Arshad Umarzai, Zar Alam, Mian Umar, Akhtar Khan, Humayun Khan, Riaz Khan, Abdul Kabir Khan, Tufail Anjum, Asif Mehsud, Ajab Gul, Muhammad Usman, Irfan Saleem, Advocate Ali Zaman and Malik Shahab.
According to the court’s order, the available record shows that the individuals are nominated in the case.
The investigating officer told the court that the accused could potentially leave the country to evade the legal process, and requested that their passports be blocked.
The court accepted the investigating officer’s request and directed the FIA to block the passports until further orders.
The development comes shortly after reports that arrest warrants had also been issued against PTI leaders, including Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, in connection with cases related to the November 26 protest.
The passport-blocking order does not amount to a conviction. The individuals remain subject to ongoing legal proceedings in the case.
