GUJRANWALA: An Anti-Terrorism Court in Gujranwala on Tuesday dismissed Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah’s request for exemption from today’s appearance and ordered to arrest and produce him on March 28.
It may be recalled that Rana Sanaullah’s non-bailable arrest warrant was issued by ATC judge Rana Zahid Iqbal Khan. The Lahore High Court yesterday had already rejected pre-arrest bail plea of the interior minister.
Also read: LHC rejects Rana Sanaullah’s pre-arrest bail plea
On February 24, the ATC had issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for the interior minister in a case registered at Industrial police station in Gujarat and ordered the police to arrest and produce him on March 7.
During today’s hearing, Rana Sanaullah’s lawyer Advocate Abdul Majeed appeared in the court and filed a request for exemption from Sanaullah’s appearance in the court, saying due to official engagements Sanaullah couldn’t appear in the court today and that he would appear in the court on the next hearing.
However, the court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant while rejecting the plea of exemption from attendance, and ordered to arrest and produce him on March 28.
Case Background:
According to FIR, registered last year on a complaint of PML-Q leader Shahkaz Aslam for issuing life threats to the Punjab chief secretary and his family members. The police document says Sanaullah spoke against the judiciary and government officials in 2021, with the statements instilling anxiety, terror and unrest among the public.
