On October 5, 2024, a court in Islamabad issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. The warrants came after Gandapur failed to appear before the court in response to multiple legal cases filed against him. The charges involve allegations of incitement and defamation, but his repeated absence from court hearings has led the judiciary to take stricter action.
The decision has intensified political tensions between the federal government and the PTI-led KP government, which has been facing increasing scrutiny over its handling of governance issues. The non-bailable arrest warrant means that law enforcement agencies can now proceed with apprehending Gandapur without further delay. However, his supporters within the PTI have called the move politically motivated, accusing the federal government of using legal measures to undermine the provincial leadership.
Despite the issuance of warrants, Gandapur has remained defiant, insisting that the charges are baseless and part of a wider campaign to discredit him and the PTI in the run-up to the next general elections. He has received strong backing from other senior PTI leaders, who argue that the judiciary is being influenced by federal authorities to target opposition figures.
The Islamabad court, however, has made it clear that it is acting within the bounds of the law, and that Gandapur’s continuous absence from court proceedings cannot be tolerated. The legal framework demands that no individual, regardless of their political standing, can evade justice indefinitely. Failure to comply with the arrest warrant could lead to more severe repercussions for the KP chief minister.
This latest development is likely to fuel further political unrest, with PTI supporters preparing to stage protests across the province. The confrontation between the federal government and the KP administration seems set to escalate, with the courts now playing a pivotal role in shaping the political future of the region.
