ATC orders passport block for KP CM, 23 other PTI leaders

The order was issued by ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain following a request from the police, who argued that the suspects could leave the country to avoid legal proceedings. The investigating officer accused had not appeared before the court, while some individuals who had obtained interim bail had allegedly not joined the investigation.

After reviewing the available record, the court approved the request and ordered the FIA to block the passports of the nominated suspects until further orders.

Those named in the case include Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Asad Qaiser, Sheram Taqi, Shah Ahmed, Sher Ali Arbab, Muhammad Iqbal Afridi, Dr Amjad Ali, Junaid Akbar, Shahid Khattak, Zubair Wazir, Omar Ayub and Arshad Umarzai. Read also:PTI Sept 27 protest: IHC rules no political party, public office-holder can block roads.

The list also includes Zar Alam, Mian Umar, Akhtar Khan, Humayun Khan, Riaz Khan, Abdul Kabir Khan, Tufail Anjum, Asif Mehsud, Ajab Gul, Muhammad Usman, Babar Saleem Swati, Irfan Saleem, Advocate Ali Zaman and Malik Shahab, among other nominated individuals., the case involves allegations including attacks on state institutions and promotion of terrorism.

The court noted that the accused had been nominated in the case, with some yet to appear before it, while certain suspects granted interim bail had allegedly failed to participate in the investigation. The allegations against the suspects are still pending before the court.

No final determination of guilt has been made, and their legal responsibility will be decided through due process. The passport-blocking order could prevent the nominated suspects from travelling abroad while proceedings in the case continue.