Court issues Sohail Afridi arrest warrants in Radio Pakistan attack case
Suspended KP CM’s arrest warrants were issued by a Peshawar anti-terrorism court with four other PTI leaders in the May 2023 Radio Pakistan attack case.
Kamran Ali
Correspondent Nukta
Kamran Ali, a seasoned journalist from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, has a decade of experience covering terrorism, human rights, politics, economy, climate change, culture, and sports. With an MS in Media Studies, he has worked across print, radio, TV, and digital media, producing investigative reports and co-hosting shows that highlight critical issues.
KP CM Sohail Afridi addresses a PTI rally in Peshawar.
PTI social media
A Peshawar anti-terrorism court has issued arrest warrants for suspended Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and four other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders. Police named the five in a charge sheet over the May 2023 attack on the Radio Pakistan building during nationwide unrest in Peshawar.
Who is named in the Sohail Afridi arrest warrants?
Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Wali Muhammad issued the warrants after the public prosecutor submitted a police charge sheet naming the five as accused. The court ordered police to arrest them and produce them before it. The other four are former provincial ministers Taimur Saleem Jhagra and Kamran Bangash, PTI Peshawar President Irfan Saleem and party worker Amir Chamkani.
Why were the five PTI leaders named in the case?
Investigators named the five based on reports from the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), according to the charge sheet. The reports reportedly identified the nominated PTI leaders and confirmed their presence in the footage. The charge sheet says the number of accused has now risen to more than 80.
In December last year, Peshawar police sent 16 video clips to the PFSA for forensic analysis. The agency submitted its report to the court on Jan. 10, followed by a NADRA report on Feb. 4.
During the hearing, a PTI lawyer requested more time and sought an adjournment. The court noted that the charge sheet had been submitted and the accused formally named, which paved the way for the arrest warrants.
What happened during the May 9, 2023 unrest?
The attack on the historic Radio Pakistan building was among the most prominent incidents during the nationwide unrest on May 9, 2023. The violence erupted after paramilitary forces arrested former Prime Minister Imran Khan at the Islamabad High Court in a corruption case.
Khan's arrest triggered protests by PTI supporters across Pakistan. Public property was damaged and military installations were targeted, including the Pakistan Army's General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and Jinnah House, the residence of the Lahore Corps Commander.
Authorities subsequently launched a nationwide crackdown, detaining thousands of PTI leaders, workers and supporters. Many faced charges under anti-terrorism laws, and dozens have since been convicted in related cases.
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