An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Peshawar issued arrest warrants on Wednesday for Sohail Afridi, former provincial ministers Taimur Saleem Jhagra and Kamran Khan Bangash, PTI Peshawar President Irfan Saleem and party activist Amir Khan Chamkani in connection with the attack and arson at Radio Pakistan’s building during the May 9 protests.
The case relates to violent demonstrations that erupted after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan in May 2023.
During Wednesday’s hearing, the district public prosecutor submitted the challan, formally naming the five individuals as accused. ATC Judge Wali Muhammad Khan observed that arrest warrants were warranted under the law following the submission of the challan and the nomination of the suspects.
The court adjourned further proceedings until November 4.
Court Reviews Forensic Evidence
Radio Pakistan’s legal counsel, Shabbir Hussain Gigyani, told the court that video footage of the attack was available and requested verification of the identities of individuals appearing in the recordings.
He sought assistance from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Punjab Forensic Science Agency to establish the identities of the suspects through video footage and photographs.
The court obtained forensic reports from NADRA Islamabad and the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory in Lahore as part of the identification process.
According to the prosecution’s account presented during the hearing, forensic analysis of the crime-scene footage indicated that the accused were present at the location. The allegations and evidence will be subject to consideration through the judicial process.
Gigyani also questioned the delay in submitting the challan, stating that the police investigation had been completed but the document had not been presented to the court for nearly six months.
He said more than 80 suspects had been nominated in the case, while the five individuals were included in the challan over their alleged involvement in the attack.
Defence counsel Ali Zaman requested additional time and sought an adjournment during the proceedings.
After hearing the arguments, the court issued arrest warrants for the five accused and fixed November 4 for the next hearing.
Political Tensions Surround Sohail Afridi’s Status
The court proceedings come amid political uncertainty surrounding Afridi’s position and the federal government’s actions concerning the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa administration.
Reports of Afridi’s detention emerged after the federal government announced on October 11 that it intended to impose emergency measures and governor’s rule in the province under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution.
The government cited the deteriorating law and order situation and what it described as insufficient support from the provincial administration in counterterrorism efforts.
Sohail Afridi’s Brother Moves Peshawar High Court Over Alleged Illegal Detention
On October 12, the minister of state for interior confirmed that Afridi and some members of his cabinet had been taken into preventive custody.
The arrest warrants issued in the Radio Pakistan case constitute a separate legal development. The court’s order followed the submission of the challan and its consideration of the material presented during the hearing.
Background: May 9 Attack on Radio Pakistan
The attack on Radio Pakistan’s Peshawar station occurred during widespread protests following Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9, 2023.
According to previous reporting, protesters entered the premises after breaking through the main gate, set fire to the building and vehicles, and damaged broadcasting equipment.
The incident caused extensive damage to the historic broadcasting station, which began operating in 1935 and is among Pakistan’s oldest radio facilities.
The fire also destroyed valuable archival material containing decades of Pashto and Hindko music, dramas, speeches and other recordings. The loss was widely regarded as a significant setback for the preservation of regional-language broadcasting heritage.
Vehicles and broadcasting equipment were also destroyed in the blaze.
Forensic Reports Identify Individuals in Video Footage
More than 80 PTI leaders and workers were initially reported to have been nominated in cases connected with the May 9 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 as proceedings continued.
In January, the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory analysed 16 video clips relating to the incident. According to previous reporting, the footage showed Afridi, Bangash, Jhagra and Irfan Saleem.
However, the forensic report also noted that some clips displayed signs of editing or splicing, highlighting the importance of carefully assessing the material presented as evidence.
The latest court proceedings have focused on the identification of individuals allegedly involved in the attack and the formal submission of charges.
The case will proceed at the next hearing on November 4, when further judicial proceedings are expected to take place.
