ATC reissues arrest warrants for detained KP CM Sohail Afridi

PESHAWAR: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Peshawar has once again issued arrest warrants for dysfunctional Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Wednesday over his continued absence from proceedings in the Radio Pakistan attack case.

The case relates to the attack on the historic Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar during violent protests on May 9 and 10, 2023, following the arrest of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan.

The ATC has been conducting the trial of around 75 accused in the case, including serving and former lawmakers. The accused were indicted on multiple charges in June 2025 and pleaded not guilty.

Afridi, along with PTI leaders Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Kamran Bangash and Irfan Saleem, was nominated as an accused in the Radio Pakistan attack case following forensic examination of video footage and identity verification reports.

Police relied on findings from the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) and the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to identify the suspects in the footage.

Afridi, PTI leaders’ detention

Afridi was leading Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) long march towards Islamabad when he was taken into custody following the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11. He has not been seen in public since his detention.

The long march, which began on October 4, was part of PTI’s protest campaign against the federal government. Afridi was reportedly taken away from the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar after the emergency was imposed.

His detention was confirmed a day later by State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry during a conversation with international news agency Reuters.

Meanwhile, PTI and the families of Afridi and other detained leaders approached the Peshawar High Court (PHC), seeking their recovery.

However, the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) barred the high court from hearing petitions concerning detentions under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance and matters arising after October 11. Subsequently, the PHC removed the relevant cases from its cause list.

Emergency, governor’s rule in KP

President Asif Ali Zardari proclaimed an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11, 2026, on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution.

The federal government cited the deteriorating law and order situation and a lack of cooperation from the provincial administration in the fight against terrorism as reasons for the decision.

Under the emergency arrangement, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi was assigned responsibility for provincial affairs with the assistance of an advisory council, while the provincial government’s administrative and legislative authority was taken over under the constitutional provisions.

The move effectively brought an end to PTI’s provincial government, triggering a fresh political confrontation between the ruling coalition and the opposition alliance.

The Imran Khan-founded party and other opposition parties have challenged the constitutional basis of the emergency and governor’s rule, calling for judicial review and the recovery of detained party leaders.