Sohail Afridi must be produced in court

October 16, 2026

The reported detention of former Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi raises serious questions about the rule of law, respect for public office and the protection of basic rights. Whatever the political situation in the province, the government must ensure that Afridi is treated with dignity and produced before a court of law without delay.

Afridi is not an ordinary political worker. He has served as the chief minister of a province and represents a political party with a large number of supporters. His political position does not place him above the law, but it also does not allow the state to treat him without respect. The same law must apply to everyone, whether a person holds public office or belongs to the opposition.

The government has said that people facing cases will be charged and tried according to the law, while those without cases will be released. This promise must be followed in practice. If there are cases against Afridi, the authorities should present the evidence before a court and allow the legal process to take its course. Keeping a political leader in custody without clear legal grounds would only create more doubts about the government’s intentions.

The use of preventive custody may be justified in certain situations under the law. However, it cannot become a tool to silence political opponents or weaken a party through arrests. The authorities must explain the legal basis for Afridi’s detention and ensure that he has access to his lawyers and family in line with the law.

The government must also understand that force alone cannot resolve political disputes. Arrests of party leaders and workers may increase anger among supporters and deepen divisions at a time when the country needs political stability. The best way to reduce tensions is to follow the Constitution, respect legal rights and allow courts to decide matters that fall within their authority.

PTI, too, must pursue its political demands through peaceful and lawful means. No political party should be allowed to disturb public order, but the state must respond within the limits of the law.

The immediate priority should be clear: Sohail Afridi must be produced before a competent court, his legal position explained and his rights protected. Respect for a former chief minister is not a favour to an individual or a political party