Sohail Afridi untraceable, Peshawar court told in Radio Pakistan attack case

A Peshawar anti-terrorism court was told on Wednesday that suspended Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi remains untraceable, as police failed to arrest him in the May 9, 2023, Radio Pakistan attack case. The hearing was adjourned until Nov. 11 at the defense's request.

Is Sohail Afridi untraceable, and what did police tell the court?

Police told the court an arrest team visited Afridi's residence but could not find him. His lawyer also confirmed he remains untraceable and said a separate petition seeking his recovery is pending before the Peshawar High Court. The investigating officer added that supplementary charge sheets have been submitted against all accused.

Afridi's counsel argued that the accused could not have been present within the jurisdictions of three different police stations at the same time. When the judge asked whether the defense was ready to present its arguments, the lawyer said they were not prepared to proceed at this stage.

Why did the court adjourn the hearing until Nov. 11?

The counsel requested more time to review the case details. He said an application had been filed to obtain records of all cases registered in connection with the May 9 incidents.

At the defense's request, the court adjourned the hearing until Nov. 11. It also extended the interim pre-arrest bail of former provincial ministers Kamran Bangash and Taimur Saleem Jhagra, as well as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Peshawar President Irfan Saleem, in the same case.

On Oct. 28, the court issued arrest warrants for Afridi and other PTI leaders after the public prosecutor submitted the police charge sheet. Jhagra, Bangash and Saleem subsequently secured bail in the case.

What does the charge sheet say about the accused?

According to the charge sheet, the number of accused has increased to more than 80. Five additional individuals, including Afridi, Jhagra, Bangash and Saleem, were named after the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) confirmed their identities.

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. The reports reportedly identified the nominated PTI leaders and confirmed their presence in the footage.

What happened in the May 9 attack on Radio Pakistan?

The attack on the historic Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar was among the most prominent incidents during nationwide unrest on May 9, 2023. The violence erupted after former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested in a corruption case at the Islamabad High Court.

Khan's arrest triggered protests by PTI supporters across the country, during which public property was damaged and several military installations were targeted. These included the Pakistan Army's General Headquarters (GHQ) 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 were charged under anti-terrorism laws, while dozens have since been convicted in cases linked to the unrest.