A district and sessions court in Islamabad adjourned the hearing on Tuesday in the weapons and liquor recovery case after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur assured the court that he would record his statement via video link. The judicial magistrate granted permission for Gandapur to testify remotely, but technical issues prevented the statement from being recorded.
The hearing, presided over by Judicial Magistrate Mubashir Hassan, resumed with the defence counsel assuring that KP CM Gandapur would testify via video link at 3 pm. This decision followed a prior warning from the court over Gandapur’s repeated absence, with the magistrate expressing displeasure last week and warning that his right to record a Section 342 statement could be forfeited if he failed to appear.
During the session, the defence questioned the court’s jurisdiction regarding the forfeiture of Gandapur’s right to record his testimony under Section 342, to which the magistrate clarified that the court’s order was based on thorough legal considerations. The case, which has been ongoing for eight years, had seen the prosecution recording witness testimonies since May 2024.
Source: Pulse Pakistan.
In today’s hearing, Magistrate Hassan permitted Gandapur to testify via video link, allowing a final attempt for him to provide his statement. However, the session was delayed due to internet connectivity issues at the court, preventing the statement from being recorded.
The court maintained the arrest warrant against the KP CM and directed him to respond to a show-cause notice concerning his continuous absences. The magistrate acknowledged Gandapur’s intent to submit his testimony, yet the technical problems hindered the process.
The hearing was adjourned with the next session scheduled for July 24, granting another opportunity for the CM to record his statement either in person or remotely.
