ATC orders arrest of TLP chief, others in Faizabad sit-in case

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) issued on Monday arrest warrants for Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan's chief (TLP) Khadim Hussain Rizvi and Pir Afzal Qadri in the Faizabad sit-in case.

According to local media reports, the ATC gave directions to arrest Rizvi and Qadri after they continued to be a no-show in the court proceedings. The relevant authorities have been ordered to present them in court in the next hearing on April 4.

Two weeks ago, ATC declared Rizvi and other leaders of TLP absconders in the case. The ATC also stated that if the accused did not appear before the court, they would be declared proclaimed offenders.

SC dissatisfied with ISI's report

The Supreme Court (SC) expressed its dissatisfaction on Monday on the report submitted by  the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) on the Faizabad sit-in. A two-member bench comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Qazi Faez Isa resumed the suo motu court proceedings.

After reviewing the report given by the deputy attorney-general (DAG) on ISI's behalf, the apex court expressed its dissatisfaction saying it had been prepared by one of the premier agencies of the country. Justice Isa remarked that he fears for the country after reading the report, local media reported.

Government submits Faizabad sit-in report to IHC

The bench asked why the ISI did not mention the source of TLP chief Rizvi’s income. The bench inquired about Rizvi's occupation, to which the SC was informed that Rizvi was a religious lecturer. The SC then directed the DAG to appear in the next hearing.

Last year, religious parties protested at Faizabad Interchange for three weeks, against a reversed change in the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat oath in the Elections Act 2017. The protest came to an end only after the protesting parties and government reached an agreement. One of the agreements included the resignation of Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid, which he had later tendered.