Peshawar ATC Reissues Arrest Warrants for Sohail Afridi
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Peshawar has reissued arrest warrants for Sohail Afridi. He is the suspended Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The court made this decision on Wednesday in the May 9 attack case.
The court also extended the interim bail of three former provincial ministers until November 17.
Case Details
The case is about the attack and arson at the Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar. This happened during violent protests on May 9 and 10, 2023. The protests started after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan.
The case was registered on the complaint of Radio Pakistan. It nominated Sohail Afridi, former ministers Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Kamran Bangash and Irfan Saleem, and Aamir Khan Chamkani.
Court Hearing
Former provincial ministers Jhagra, Bangash and Saleem appeared before ATC Judge Wali Mohammad with their lawyers. During the hearing, the lawyers asked for more time.
We are not prepared today. We should be given time, and the hearing should be adjourned.
The court accepted their request. It adjourned the hearing until November 17 and extended the interim bail of the three former ministers until that date.
Previous Hearing
In an earlier hearing on October 28, the ATC had issued arrest warrants for Afridi, Jhagra, Bangash, Saleem and Chamkani. This happened after the prosecution submitted the challan and named them as accused in the case.
The court had also obtained forensic reports from NADRA Islamabad and the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory. These reports were used to verify their identities through video footage and photographs of the May 9 attack.
Radio Pakistan's counsel told the court that footage of the incident was available. Forensic analysis indicated that the accused were present at the scene.
Government Action in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
Reports about Afridi's detention came after the federal government announced emergency and governor's rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on October 11. This was done under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution.
The government said the law and order situation was getting worse. It also said there was a lack of support from the provincial administration in the fight against terrorism.
On October 12, the minister of state for interior confirmed that Afridi and some members of his cabinet had been taken into preventive custody.
Background of the Attack
The attack on Radio Pakistan's Peshawar station took place during widespread protests after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan on May 9, 2023. Protesters entered the premises after breaking the main gate. They set fire to the building and vehicles and damaged equipment.
The arson caused extensive damage to the historic broadcasting station. It began operating in 1935 and was among Pakistan's oldest radio stations.
The fire destroyed century-old archives. These contained decades of Pashto and Hindko music, dramas, speeches, and other recordings. The loss was described as a major cultural setback for regional-language broadcasting. Vehicles and broadcasting equipment were also reduced to ashes.
Investigation and Evidence
More than 80 PTI leaders and workers were initially nominated in cases related to the violence and the attack on Radio Pakistan.
In November 2025, an ATC directed prosecution witnesses and the investigating officer to appear with the relevant case property. The proceedings focused on establishing the identities of those allegedly involved through video footage, photographs and forensic evidence.
The investigation into the involvement of senior PTI figures became a contentious aspect of the case.
In January, the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory analysed 16 video clips. The footage showed Sohail Afridi, Kamran Bangash, Taimur Saleem Jhagra and Irfan Saleem. However, the report also noted that some clips showed signs of editing or splicing. This underscored the need to assess the evidence carefully.
