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Ali Amin Gandapur Indicted in Audio Leak Case as Court Cancels Arrest Warrants
An Islamabad court has indicted PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur and co-accused Asad Farooq Khan in the audio leak case. Arrest warrants were cancelled after Gandapur appeared before the court, citing security concerns for earlier absences.
ND
by News Desk
2026-02-21
Ali Amin Gandapur Indicted in Audio Leak Case as Court Cancels Arrest Warrants

The long-running legal proceedings in the audio leak case against Ali Amin Gandapur entered a decisive phase on Saturday as an Islamabad court formally indicted the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and his co-accused.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Nasr Minallah Baloch presided over the hearing. Gandapur, who previously served as chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, appeared before the court accompanied by his counsel, Advocate Raja Zahoorul Hassan. His co-accused, Asad Farooq Khan, was also present.

At the outset, the court addressed the primary issue that had stalled proceedings for months — the repeated non-appearance of the accused. Judge Baloch questioned Gandapur over his failure to attend earlier hearings.

In response, Gandapur cited serious security concerns and logistical difficulties, claiming that road closures and a curfew-like situation in certain areas had prevented his travel to Islamabad. He also informed the court that his mobile phone had been seized during raids at his residence.

While noting the explanation, Judge Baloch reminded the accused that decisions regarding court appearances fall within judicial discretion. He stressed that a conviction could not be based merely on the prosecution’s request and observed that the matter had remained pending for a considerable period without formal indictment.

During the proceedings, the defence sought cancellation of the arrest warrants issued against Gandapur, arguing that since he had appeared before the court, it had the authority to rescind them. The judge accepted the request and suspended the warrants but cautioned the PTI leader to ensure his attendance in future hearings.

“The warrants are cancelled, but in the future, you must be careful and ensure your appearance in court,” the judge warned, advising that any unavoidable absence should be preceded by a formal application seeking exemption from personal appearance.

Following the cancellation of the warrants, the court terminated the process initiated through the publication of an advertisement declaring the accused an absconder. The judge then read out the charges and formally indicted both Gandapur and Asad Farooq Khan in the audio leak case. The accused stood in the dock as the charges were framed.

The hearing was subsequently adjourned until April 6.

The case has seen multiple developments over the past year. On February 9, an Islamabad court had declared Gandapur a proclaimed offender in a separate liquor and arms recovery case due to his continued absence from proceedings. Arrest warrants had been issued against him several times over non-appearance, including on October 5, 2024; September 4, 2024; July 19, 2025; and September 10, 2025.

With the formal indictment now completed, the trial in the audio leak case is set to proceed to the evidentiary stage in the coming weeks.
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