ATC orders passports blocked for 24 PTI lawmakers

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad has ordered authorities to block the passports of 24 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members of the National and provincial assemblies in connection with a case related to the party’s November 26 protest.

The court ordered the passports of several prominent PTI leaders to be blocked, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser and lawmakers Shehram Khan Tarakai, Shah Ahmad, Sher Ali Arbab, Muhammad Iqbal Afridi and Dr Amjad Ali.

The order also covers PTI leaders Junaid Akbar, Shahid Khattak, Zubair Wazir, Omar Ayub, Arshad Umarzai, Zarr Alam, Mian Umar, Akhtar Khan, Humayun Khan, Riaz Khan, Abdul Kabir Khan and Tufail Anjum.

The court further ordered the passports of Asif Mehsud, Ajab Gul, Muhammad Usman, Babar Saleem Swati, Irfan Saleem, Advocate Ali Zaman and Malik Shehab to be blocked.

The development comes as legal proceedings continue against PTI leaders and workers over the November 26 protest. The court has also issued arrest warrants for 12 members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in connection with the case.

Arrest warrants have also reportedly been issued for three PTI members of the National Assembly. The warrants were issued in connection with case No. 1033 registered at Kohsar Police Station.

The November 26 protest case involves PTI leaders and workers who are facing legal proceedings over the events surrounding the party’s demonstration in Islamabad. The latest court order adds further restrictions on the lawmakers as the proceedings move forward.

The passport-blocking order could affect the lawmakers’ ability to travel abroad while the cases against them remain pending. Further legal action will depend on the proceedings before the anti-terrorism court.