The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday has approved handing over of PTI leader and former federal minister Ali Amin Gandapur to Punjab. Following Punjab Home Department sent a letter to KP Home Department, it was decided to hand over accused Gandapur to Bhakkar police after completing the legal requirements.

Gandapur is wanted by the Bhakkar police in connection with opening firing on police posts in Sarai Mahajir and Dajal, interfering if official work and breaking police barrier by hitting it with his car while returning from Lahore last month. The Bhakkar police had registered a case on terrorism charges against Gandapur.  According to police, a drunk Gandapur and his guards were signalled to stop at the post last month but they resorted to firing and fled away. Police launched a chase and detained four guards of Gandapur and also impounded their vehicle.

Yesterday, the KP police had arrested Ali Amin Gandapur after a long standoff at Peshawar High Court's Dera Ismail Khan Bench. The former PTI minister appeared the court when the police surrounded the court building. Gandapur remained inside the court premises to prevent his arrest which spun into a dramatic situation which lasted for several hours while the DPO with a large number of police personnel, armoured vehicles and trucks remained present outside the building.

Later Gandapur surrendered to the police who took into custody outside the Peshawar High Court, DI Khan bench where he went to secure bail in the cases registered against him on different charges including terrorism. Gandapur is expected to be produced in a local court in Dera Ismail Khan today for obtaining his physical remand.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP