ATC maintains arrest warrants for Sohail Afridi, Junaid Akbar in Nov 26 protest case

Court rejects exemption pleas and orders police to submit challan against K-P CM and other accused

ISLAMABAD:

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Wednesday maintained arrest warrants for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Junaid Akbar and several other accused in a case related to the November 26 protest.

Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Tahir Abbas Supra rejected exemption applications filed by the accused who failed to appear for the hearing and ordered police to submit the challan against Afridi and the other accused as soon as possible.

The court also ordered the issuance of arrest warrants for the accused who were absent from the proceedings.

According to police records, multiple first information reports (FIRs) have been registered against Afridi at police stations across Islamabad. The ATC had issued his arrest warrants in November in a case involving alleged arson during the November 26 protest.

The Cyber Crime Wing in Islamabad has also registered two separate cases against Afridi. The case being heard by the ATC was registered at Margalla Police Station against Afridi and others.

Proceedings to declare the K-P chief minister and the other accused proclaimed offenders were also under way.

The court adjourned further proceedings until September 30.

Case history

The case dates back to the November 26, 2023 protests, when Islamabad Police launched a crackdown on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders accused of involvement in violence and arson during the demonstrations. Among those sought by police were K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, former MNA Junaid Akbar, Shafi Ullah Jan, Meena Khan and Dr Amjad.

On November 7, 2025, Islamabad Police reached the K-P House in the federal capital to arrest Afridi after the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) issued arrest warrants for him and Junaid Akbar over alleged arson during the November 26 protest. Police formally presented the warrants to the K-P House administration, but officials said Afridi was not present. The police team left after completing the required formalities, with officials saying no resistance was encountered.

Police had also conducted raids at several locations in an attempt to arrest Afridi, Akbar and other PTI leaders. The warrants were issued as the investigation into the November 26 violence continued.

Read: Court rejects PTI plea in Nov 26 case

Afridi then secured protective bail from the Peshawar High Court, which restrained law enforcement agencies from arresting or harassing him until December 9. The court also directed authorities to provide details of all criminal cases registered against him.

By December 18, 2025, the ATC had begun proceedings under Section 87 of the Code of Criminal Procedure against Afridi and several other accused who had failed to appear before the court. Notices were displayed at locations including the Judicial Complex, giving the accused a final opportunity to appear. The court warned that those who failed to appear would be declared proclaimed offenders and face further legal action.

The proceedings against Afridi and the other accused have continued since then, with the court maintaining arrest warrants for those who have failed to appear and directing police to complete the investigation and submit the challan.

D-Chowk Protest

On November 13, 2023, Imran Khan made a “final call” for nationwide protests to be held on November 24, demanding the restoration of PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of imprisoned party members, and the reversal of the 26th Amendment, which he claimed had empowered a “dictatorial regime”.

The protest took place in D-Chowk, Islamabad, where supporters travelled from different provinces to heed Khan’s call.

Officials ruled out negotiations, and police initiated an operation to disperse participants. PTI leaders left the venue during the action. The protest ended after the security operation on November 26.