Non-bailable arrest warrant for Swati issued; bail of Asad Umar confirmed

A special court on Tuesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants of Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) leader Azam Swati in a case registered against him over a controversial tweet. The court issued arrest warrants on the request of the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) and deferred the indictment of the PTI leader in a case registered against him over a controversial tweet. The special judge central Islamabad resumed hearing of the case while Swati failed to show up in the court for his indictment. The investigating officer (IO) told the court that the arrest warrants previously issued by the court had been executed. However, Swati was not present at his residence at the time. Swati’s lawyer also admitted before the court that he was not in contact with his client while simultaneously informing the court that he had no knowledge of the Investigation Officer’s visit to Swati’s residence. The court briefly adjourned proceedings and summoned the FIA officer who had executed the arrest warrant. Upon resumption of the hearing later, the FIA official verified the version presented by the prosecution and claimed that nobody opened the door when the team visited Swati’s house. Special prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi pleaded the court to issue non-bailable arrest warrants for the PTI leader. However, Swati’s counsel opposed the request, arguing that the law for non-bailable arrest warrants “is very different”. “The law is not a joke,” responded the special prosecutor. “Everyone is being made to hold a press conference,” argued Swati’s lawyer, claiming that “cases are quashed for everyone who holds a press conference. “The court should issue bailable arrest warrants first to complete their execution,” he maintained, stressing that there were high court orders mandating this. The court directed the lawyer to submit the relevant orders. Meanwhile, the special prosecutor argued that “everyone knows where a person is to be found; even the lawyer.” The PTI leader’s lawyer on the other hand argued that the arrest warrants had not been “properly executed”, saying that “the Whatsapp number being contacted [by FIA officials] is actually mine”. On the other hand, the FIA’S lawyer alleged that “Azam Swati did not appear before the court intentionally”.