An Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday issued perpetual arrest warrants for nine PTI leaders in a case relating to violence outside the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC).

Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain issued arrest warrants for Hammad Azhar, Shibli Faraz, Murad Saeed, Omar Ayub Khan and Ali Amin Gandapur. Perpetual arrest warrants were also issued for Ali Nawaz Awan, Hassaan Khan Niazi, Umer Sultan and Muhammad Asim.

The court also issued arrest warrants for Farrukh Habib, who had parted ways with the PTI earlier this month.

The court came to the decision after the suspects’ failure to appear before the court despite being summoned. The court directed that since the suspects had been declared proclaimed offenders, they should be apprehended and presented.

The case pertains to clashes between the police and PTI workers in March amid party chairman Imran Khan’s appearance at the FJC in a hearing for the Toshakhana case.

In the violent confrontation, a contingent of law enforcers and PTI supporters used anti-riot gear against each other with teargas used from both sides to push the opposing side back. The PTI used rocks against the police alongside petrol bombs to set their vehicles on fire.

The mob also set a police chowki on fire and during the confrontation over 25 officials were injured.

Imran and other PTI leaders were then booked in cases at the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and the Golra Police Station, claimed that the PTI leaders and workers attacked the police and created unrest outside the Federal Judicial Complex, Islamabad, during the hearing of the Toshakhana case on Saturday.

PTI leader Parvez Elahi was arrested in the case in September hours after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had suspended his detention under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance and directed his release. On Tuesday, Elahi’s judicial remand was extended till November 21.