ATC reissues arrest warrants for Sohail Afridi

PESHAWAR: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Peshawar on Wednesday reissued arrest warrants for suspended Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in connection with the May 9 attack on Radio Pakistan, while extending the interim bail of three former provincial ministers until November 17.

The case concerns the attack and arson at the Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar during violent protests on May 9 and 10, 2023, following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.

The complaint was filed by Radio Pakistan, which nominated Afridi, former provincial ministers Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Kamran Bangash and Irfan Saleem, along with Aamir Khan Chamkani.

Former ministers Jhagra, Bangash and Irfan Saleem appeared before ATC Judge Wali Mohammad on Wednesday along with their legal representatives. Their lawyers sought additional time to prepare for the proceedings, requesting the court to adjourn the hearing.

Accepting the request, the judge postponed further proceedings until November 17 and extended the interim bail of the three former ministers until the next hearing.

The court had previously issued arrest warrants for all five accused, including Afridi, on October 28 after the prosecution submitted the challan formally identifying them as suspects in the case.

Investigators have also presented forensic findings obtained from NADRA Islamabad and the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory to establish the identities of individuals seen in footage and photographs of the incident. Radio Pakistan’s counsel had maintained that video evidence was available and that forensic examination had identified the accused at the scene.

The developments come amid political tensions surrounding Afridi’s reported detention following the federal government’s announcement on October 11 of its decision to impose emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution.

The federal government had cited worsening security conditions and alleged shortcomings in the provincial administration’s cooperation with counterterrorism efforts as reasons for the move. A day later, the minister of state for interior confirmed that Afridi and some members of his cabinet had been taken into preventive custody.

The Radio Pakistan station in Peshawar was attacked during protests triggered by Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9, 2023. Demonstrators reportedly forced their way into the premises by breaking through the main entrance before setting the building and vehicles on fire and damaging broadcasting equipment.

The incident caused extensive destruction at the historic broadcasting facility, which had been established in 1935 and was among the country’s oldest radio stations.

A particularly significant loss was the destruction of decades-old archives containing Pashto and Hindko music, dramas, speeches and other historical recordings. The material represented an important part of the region’s cultural and broadcasting heritage.

More than 80 PTI leaders and workers were initially named in cases linked to the violence and the attack on the station.

The trial has since focused heavily on identifying those allegedly involved through video recordings, photographs and forensic examination. In November 2025, the ATC directed prosecution witnesses and the investigating officer to appear with the relevant evidence and case property.

In January, the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory examined 16 video clips and reported that footage showed Afridi, Bangash, Jhagra and Irfan Saleem. However, the forensic findings also identified signs of editing or splicing in some recordings, making further assessment of the material important to the proceedings.