Arrest Warrants Issued
An anti-terrorism court has issued arrest warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) provincial president Junaid Akbar. The warrants relate to the November 26 incident, during which protests escalated into vandalism and public disorder.
Following the court order, police officials proceeded to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad to carry out the warrants. According to sources, the staff at the residence received the warrants, but Afridi was not present at the premises at that time. Police briefly remained at the residence to ensure compliance and then departed.
Official Statements and Clarifications
A spokesperson for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government confirmed that rumors about the imminent arrests circulating on social media were false. They clarified that Chief Minister Afridi was in Peshawar when the police visited the Islamabad residence. Police officers, including the station house officer (SHO) of Secretariat Police, had come to enforce the warrants.
The spokesperson emphasized that the visit was routine procedural compliance, and no arrests took place at the residence.
Context and Legal Background
The warrants were issued in connection with a case involving public protests that led to clashes and property damage on November 26. Authorities allege that both political leaders were involved in organizing or supporting actions that escalated into violence.
Protests in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have occasionally led to anti-terrorism court involvement when public order is threatened. The issuance of warrants against high-profile politicians underscores the legal scrutiny facing political leaders amid mass protests.
Next Steps
It remains unclear if Afridi or Akbar will voluntarily present themselves to authorities or if further enforcement measures will be taken. Analysts note that this development could heighten political tensions between the ruling party and opposition factions in the province.
This case reflects the broader challenge of balancing law enforcement with political expression in Pakistan’s volatile protest landscape.
