Pakistani court issues non-bailable arrest warrants for KP chief minister
Prosecutors say Afridi made false statements online that harmed state institutions’ credibility
Aamir Abbasi
Editor, Islamabad
Aamir; a journalist with 15 years of experience, working in Newspaper, TV and Digital Media. Worked in Field, covered Big Legal Constitutional and Political Events in Pakistan since 2009 with Pakistan’s Top Media Organizations. Graduate of Quaid I Azam University Islamabad.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.
A Pakistani court on Wednesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi over allegedly misleading statements against state institutions.
The warrants were issued by a district and sessions court in Islamabad, presided over by Senior Civil Judge Abbas Shah, after Afridi failed to appear despite multiple summons.
The court directed authorities to arrest Afridi and present him before the bench.
The case was registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). Prosecutors said Afridi had made unsubstantiated and misleading statements on digital platforms, which allegedly damaged the credibility of state institutions.
During the hearing, the court expressed frustration at Afridi’s repeated non-appearance and non-compliance with prior notices, prompting the issuance of non-bailable arrest warrants to secure his attendance.
The court has adjourned proceedings until February 10, when the case will be taken up again.
The case comes amid heightened political tensions in Pakistan. Critics have raised concerns over the use of cybercrime laws against political figures, while authorities insist that the legislation applies equally to all individuals accused of spreading false or harmful content online.
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