The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) of Islamabad on Wednesday declared PTI leaders Omar Ayub and Zartaj Gul as proclaimed offenders in the Sangjani political gathering case after their repeated failure to appear before the court.
The court also issued orders to seize the properties of both accused.
ATC proceedings and orders
The case was heard by ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, who noted the continued non-appearance of Omar Ayub and Zartaj Gul.
Both leaders were formally declared absconders, and the court directed authorities to initiate the property seizure process.
Meanwhile, exemption requests submitted by Zain Qureshi, Ali Bukhari, Sher Afzal Marwat, and Shoaib Shaheen were accepted.
The court adjourned further proceedings until December 20.
A criminal case related to the Sangjani public gathering had earlier been registered at the Sangjani Police Station of Islamabad against multiple PTI leaders.
Deepening rifts within PTI leadership
Alongside the legal developments, internal tensions within PTI continue to intensify.
Sources say the divide between the political leadership and the technocratic/lawyers’ group has grown sharper in recent weeks. Several senior political leaders have reportedly approached Aleema Khan, seeking her assistance in conveying their concerns to the party’s founder.
These leaders oppose the confrontational strategy being pushed by the lawyers’ faction and instead favour negotiations with the state to resolve ongoing political crises.
Political leaders oppose confrontation
According to party insiders, the lawyers’ group is advocating options such as resignations from assemblies and escalating pressure tactics -- moves strongly rejected by PTI’s political leadership. They argue that limiting the PTI’s parliamentary role would be a grave mistake and accuse the legal faction of pushing the party into a dead end.
Senior political leaders have expressed frustration over what they describe as non-political decisions being imposed on the party.
They are also irritated by nominations from outside the PTI for the post of opposition leader, which they say undermine internal party processes.
Sources further add that PTI’s political committee has repeatedly been sidelined, with its recommendations disregarded in key decisions.
