RAWALPINDI: Following the issuance of arrest warrants by the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) for 65 Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers, Rawalpindi police have launched raids to apprehend the accused who have gone into hiding to avoid arrest in Nov 26 cases.

A senior official said that authorities are also considering requesting the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to place the names of the accused on the Provincial National Identification List (PNIL) to prevent them from leaving the country.

He added that all available options would be used to ensure compliance with the court orders. The court orders were issued in cases registered at Sadigabad, Wah Cantt and Naseerabad police stations in connection with the November 26 protest.

Non-bailable arrest warrants were issued for 65 PTI leaders and workers who reportedly went into hiding.

A police spokesman confirmed that the court orders pertain to the same three police stations and that the warrants were issued due to the accused evading arrest.

According to the spokesman, the accused include former president Arif Alvi, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur, Aleema Khan, Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub, Zubair Niazi, Farrukh Muhammad Sial, Hammad Azhar, Matiullah Shah, Kanwal Shozab, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Ijaz Khan Jazi, Colonel Ajmal Sabir, Aamir Mughal, Sardar Mansoor and Mian Aslam Iqbal.

Additionally, warrants have been issued for the non-appearance of 18 other accused. The accused will be arrested and presented before the court. The police spokesman said teams have been formed to arrest the accused, and raids are being conducted in different areas.-Mohammad Asghar