May 9 case against CM presents legal dilemma

The prosecution team and government legal advisors have decided to prolong the high-profile case linked to the May 10, 2023, attack on Radio Pakistan's Peshawar building, opting against immediately submitting the challan (charge sheet) to the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC).

This move comes despite the investigation officer recently nominating Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi and four others as accused, based on forensic video evidence.

The decision to seek a new hearing date and allow more time for addressing legal complexities has drawn attention in legal and political circles. Sources indicate that the government team views further delays as strategically beneficial, potentially avoiding immediate complications for the chief minister.

The case stems from violent protests on May 9 and 10, 2023, following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, during which a mob ransacked and set fire to the Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar. The incident was part of widespread unrest across Pakistan. Forensic reports from the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) authenticated video footage and matched profiles, leading to the nomination of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, former provincial ministers Taimur Saleem Jhagra and Kamran Bangash, district president Irfan Saleem, and PTI worker Aamir Chamkani.

A special committee of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly convened in Peshawar to review the case's progress, challan preparation, and the chief minister's nomination. However, the meeting saw low attendance, with only five of the 14 committee members present: Samiullah, Tariq Saeed, Raishad Khan, and Asif Masood. Senior officials, including the Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary (Home), were notably absent, raising questions about administrative commitment. The Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar represented the Inspector General of Police, while the Advocate General and prosecution officials attended.

The investigative officer was summoned during the session, where members questioned the basis for including the chief minister in the challan and the prosecution's current status. Discussions centered on the Nadra and PFSA reports, which allegedly place the chief minister at the scene via video evidence.