ATC issues final notice to Islamabad DIG in PTI protest case

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court has issued a final notice to the Islamabad deputy inspector general of police (operations) under Section 37 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, over non-compliance with court directions to submit the challan in a protest case involving PTI leaders and workers.

At a hearing on Tuesday, ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra expressed dissatisfaction over the continued failure to file the challan despite repeated court orders and earlier notices. Prosecutor Raja Naveed told the court that the prosecution had still not received the challan, prompting the judge to question the investigating authorities over the delay.

The court observed that proceedings could not move forward because the record remained incomplete and there was uncertainty about the accused identified in the interim challan. According to the order, a previous notice had already been issued to the DIG, but he neither appeared before the court nor filed any written explanation regarding the delay.

During the proceedings, the judge at one point verbally announced a punishment of one month in prison and a fine of Rs100,000 for the DIG for defying court orders, and directed the stenographer to prepare the order in the courtroom. However, the written order later issued did not impose the punishment and instead served a final show-cause notice.

The order said Section 37 of the Anti-Terrorism Act authorises an anti-terrorism court to punish any person who disobeys its orders with rigorous imprisonment of up to six months and a fine. The court also noted that repeated directions had been given to the investigating officer to submit the complete challan, but no meaningful progress had been made.

Special Public Prosecutor and newly appointed investigating officer Inspector Zafar Iqbal requested a short adjournment to submit a detailed report and the challan. Inspector Iqbal told the court he had only recently been assigned to the case and that the investigation team had been reconstituted. The prosecution assured the court that its orders would now be followed in letter and spirit.

The court was informed that accused Sohail Afridi, Junaid Akbar and Abdul Ghani had been placed in Column No. 2 of the interim challan because their arrest was still required. The DIG was directed to submit a written reply before the next hearing, and the matter was adjourned until July 6.

AJK High Court order on PTI registration

In a separate development, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Wednesday directed the Election Commission to provisionally register PTI as a political party. The short order was verbally announced in open court by senior puisne judge Syed Shahid Bahar.

The other members of the bench were Justice Sardar Muhammad Ejaz and Justice Khalid Rasheed Chaudhry. A detailed judgement was expected later on Wednesday.

On May 16, the Election Commission had rejected PTI’s application for registration, saying the party had allegedly failed to meet Rule 121 of the Election Rules relating to financial affairs and account details submitted by the applicant party. PTI leaders had described that move as unconstitutional and undemocratic and said they would challenge it before the relevant forums.

According to PTI sources, the commission’s decision was challenged in the high court on June 19 through a writ petition filed on behalf of the party’s regional president Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi and secretary general Mir Attiqur Rehman.