July 15, 2024
ISLAMABAD: A local court on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat in a case pertaining to his alleged involvement in illegal construction.
A case was lodged in Naseerabad Police Station against Marwat, wherein he was accused of illegal construction on a piece of land near the Thallian Motorway Interchange, without obtaining permission from the authorities.
The judicial magistrate directed the police to arrest the MNA and produce him before the court on July 30.
The order comes after the former ruling party accused the government of using various tactics to coerce PTI leaders to change their allegiance after the Supreme Court verdict pertaining to the reserved seats.
PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan said on Saturday his party had prepared a list of MNAs, including Marwat, in compliance with the apex court verdict.
Talking to journalists in Adiala jail, he had said they would submit the lists to the Election Commission of Pakistan within 15 days.
Seeking the top court’s intervention to resolve the matter, Gohar claimed on Sunday that lawmakers of his party were being forced to switch their loyalties.
He condemned the "abduction" of PTI leaders and their family members — including MNA Sahibzada Ameer Sultan, PTI media wing member Rizwan Malik, Mian Fayyaz Ahmad Chajra’s son Mian Tajamal Hussain and brother Mian Imtiaz Hussain and other social media activists.
In a major legal victory for the PTI, the SC on Friday ruled that the party was eligible for the allocation of reserved seats.
The decision has not only paved the way for the PTI's return to the parliament, which was kicked out of the February 8 polls owing to the ECP's December 2023 ruling, but has also increased the pressure on the coalition alliance as the judgement will change the composition of the National Assembly.