Peshawar ATC reissues arrest warrants for Sohail Afridi in Radio Pakistan case

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Peshawar on Wednesday reissued arrest warrants for Sohail Afridi in the case of the May 9 attack on Radio Pakistan. The Express Tribune and Minute Mirror describe Afridi as the suspended Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, while 24 News calls him the former chief minister. Daily Pakistan reported that fresh warrants were also issued for Aamir Chamkani.

ATC Judge Wali Mohammad heard the case. Former provincial ministers Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Kamran Bangash and Irfan Saleem appeared before the court with their lawyers. The court extended their interim bail until November 17, and the hearing was adjourned until that date.

According to The Express Tribune, the lawyers asked for more time. They told the court: "We are not prepared today. We should be given time, and the hearing should be adjourned." Daily Pakistan, citing Dunya News, reported that the investigating officer also appeared in court and that the three former ministers had filed pre-arrest bail applications.

The case concerns the attack on and arson at the Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar during protests on May 9 and 10, 2023, after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan. It was registered on the complaint of Radio Pakistan, which named Afridi, Jhagra, Bangash, Irfan Saleem and Aamir Khan Chamkani.

The Express Tribune reported that protesters broke through the main gate of the Peshawar station, set fire to the building and vehicles, and damaged equipment. The fire destroyed century-old archives of Pashto and Hindko music, dramas, speeches and other recordings. It said more than 80 PTI leaders and workers were initially reported to have been nominated in cases linked to the violence and the attack.

The paper said the ATC had issued arrest warrants for all five accused on October 28, after the prosecution submitted the challan. The court obtained forensic reports from NADRA Islamabad and the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory to verify identities from video footage and photographs. Radio Pakistan's counsel told the court that footage was available and that forensic analysis indicated the accused were present at the scene.

According to the same report, the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory analysed 16 video clips in January, which showed Afridi, Bangash, Jhagra and Irfan Saleem. The laboratory's report noted that some clips showed signs of editing or splicing.

The Express Tribune also reported that the federal government announced emergency and governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11 under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution, citing a deteriorating law and order situation. On October 12 the minister of state for interior confirmed that Afridi and some cabinet members were taken into preventive custody.