An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Monday issued arrest warrants for former National Assembly Speaker and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser in the Judicial Complex attack case.

The court, presided over by Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, directed authorities to apprehend Qaiser and present him before the court.

The tribunal, however, excused former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, and former federal ministers Asad Umar and Shibli Faraz from appearing in person. The proceedings were postponed until October 6.

The charges stem from events on March 1, 2023, when unrest and property destruction occurred during former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s presence at the Federal Judicial Complex and Islamabad High Court. Law enforcement filed charges against PTI leaders and supporters after damage was inflicted on public and private assets. At least 29 people, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa law enforcement personnel and security guards, were detained at the scene.

The First Information Report (FIR), registered at Islamabad’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) station based on a complaint from SHO Ramna Malik Rashid Ahmed, cited Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (1997) along with several sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including Sections 148, 149, 186, 353, 380, 395, 427, 435, 440, and 506.

The FIR identified 18 individuals allegedly linked to damaging the Judicial Complex, 22 accused of arson and vandalizing the parking area, and 19 others accused of assaulting law enforcement officers during the confrontation.