A Peshawar anti-terrorism court (ATC) has reissued arrest warrants for suspended Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in connection with the May 9 Radio Pakistan attack case, while extending the interim bail of three former provincial ministers until November 17.
The decision was announced during a hearing on Wednesday before ATC Judge Wali Mohammad. The court also adjourned the proceedings until November 17 after lawyers for the former ministers requested additional time to prepare their arguments.
Interim Bail Extended for Three Former Ministers
Former provincial ministers Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Kamran Bangash and Irfan Saleem appeared before the court along with their lawyers.
Their legal representatives told the court they were not prepared to proceed with the hearing and requested an adjournment to review the case record.
Accepting the request, the court postponed the hearing until November 17 and extended the interim bail of all three former ministers until that date.
Sohail Afridi, however, did not appear before the court, prompting the reissuance of his arrest warrants.
Case Relates to May 9 Attack on Radio Pakistan
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 case was registered on the complaint of Radio Pakistan, which nominated Afridi, former provincial ministers Jhagra, Bangash and Irfan Saleem, along with PTI activist Aamir Khan Chamkani.
In an earlier hearing on October 28, the ATC issued arrest warrants for all five individuals after the prosecution submitted a supplementary challan formally naming them as accused.
The court also considered forensic reports obtained from NADRA Islamabad and the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory to examine video footage and photographs linked to the incident.
Peshawar ATC Issues Arrest Warrants for Sohail Afridi in Radio Pakistan Attack Case
Forensic Evidence and Questions Over Afridi’s Whereabouts
The prosecution has maintained that forensic analysis of footage from the attack indicated the presence of the nominated individuals at the scene. However, the evidentiary material remains subject to assessment through legal proceedings.
A forensic examination conducted in January reportedly analysed 16 video clips. While the laboratory identified several individuals in the footage, it also noted signs of editing or splicing in some clips.
Meanwhile, reports of Afridi’s detention emerged after the federal government announced emergency measures and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11.
The federal government cited the deteriorating law and order situation and concerns about provincial support in counterterrorism efforts. A minister of state for interior subsequently confirmed that Afridi and some members of his cabinet had been taken into preventive custody.
Afridi’s whereabouts have remained a subject of legal and political concern, with his counsel previously raising questions about his detention.
Historic Radio Pakistan Building Damaged in Arson
The Radio Pakistan station in Peshawar was attacked during the May 2023 protests, when demonstrators entered the premises, damaged equipment and set parts of the building and vehicles on fire.
The incident caused extensive damage to the historic broadcasting station, which began operations in 1935. Its archives, containing decades of Pashto and Hindko music, dramas, speeches and other recordings, were also destroyed.
More than 80 PTI leaders and workers were initially nominated in cases linked to the violence and the attack.
The latest court proceedings mark another development in the investigation into the incident, with the next hearing scheduled for November 17.
Source: The Express Tribune, Dawn
