ATC orders passports blocked for CM KP Sohail Afridi, 26 PTI leaders

ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has ordered the blocking and impounding of the passports of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and 26 other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in connection with a terrorism case registered at Tarnol Police Station.

The order was issued on an application submitted by the investigating officer in Tarnol Police Station Case No. 1033, registered on November 24, 2026, under various provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code, the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Protection of Pakistan-related legislation.

According to the court order and investigation record, the 27 accused include several PTI lawmakers and senior party figures from the federal and provincial assemblies. Among those named are MNAs Asad Qaiser, Shahram Tarakai, Shah Ahad, Sher Ali Arbab, Muhammad Iqbal Afridi, Dr Amjad Ali, Junaid Akbar, Shahid Khattak, Zubair Wazir and Omar Ayub.

The list also includes KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and MPAs and other PTI leaders including Arshad Umerzai, Zar Alam, Mian Umer, Akhtar Khan, Hamayun Khan, Riaz Khan, Abdul Kabir Khan, Tufail Anjum, Asif Mehsud, Ajab Gul, Muhammad Usman, Babar Saleem Swati, Irfan Saleem, Advocate Ali Zaman and Malik Shahab.

The court cited several grounds while allowing the request to block the travel documents. According to the order, the accused have been nominated in the case, while the investigating officer expressed apprehension that they could leave the country to avoid the legal process.

The court also took into account the seriousness of the allegations, which include charges relating to attacks on state institutions and terrorism. It further noted that some of the accused had failed to appear before the court, while those who had obtained interim bail allegedly did not join the investigation.

The investigating officer had requested the court to direct the relevant authorities to block or impound the passports of the nominated accused, citing the issuance of non-bailable warrants and the alleged absconding status of some suspects.

Following the order, the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports and other relevant authorities have been directed to take necessary action regarding the travel documents of the accused.

The case stems from the November 26 incident in the Tarnol area and involves serious allegations against PTI leaders. Further proceedings will determine the legal status of the accused as the investigation and court process continue.