Peshawar ATC issues arrest warrants for Sohail Afridi in Radio Pakistan attack case

Court cites forensic reports identifying suspects in video footage of attack, adjourns hearing until November 4

PESHAWAR:

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Peshawar on Wednesday issued arrest warrants for suspended Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, former provincial ministers Taimur Saleem Jhagra and Kamran Khan Bangash, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Peshawar President Irfan Saleem and party activist Amir Khan Chamkani in May 9 attack case.

The case relates to the attack on and arson at the Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar during violent protests on May 9 and 10, 2023, following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan.

During Wednesday's hearing, the district public prosecutor submitted the challan, naming Afridi, Jhagra, Bangash, Saleem and Chamkani as accused. ATC Judge Wali Muhammad Khan observed that, since the challan had been submitted and the suspects had been nominated, arrest warrants were warranted in accordance with the law.

Radio Pakistan's legal counsel Shabbir Hussain Gigyani told the court that video footage of the attack was available and requested that the identities of those appearing in it be verified through the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Punjab Forensic Science Agency.

Also Read: Non-functional Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa CM Sohail Afridi's brother moves PHC over alleged 'illegal' detention

The court subsequently obtained forensic reports from NADRA Islamabad and the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory in Lahore to verify the suspects' identities through video footage and photographs.

According to the prosecution's account presented in court, forensic analysis of the crime-scene footage also indicated that the accused were present at the site.

Gigyani lamented that, although the police investigation had been completed, the challan had not been submitted to the court for nearly six months. He said more than 80 suspects had been nominated in the case, adding that five had now been included in the challan over their alleged involvement in the attack.

The lawyer maintained that the forensic findings supported the identification of the suspects and urged the court to proceed against them in accordance with the law.

Read more: CM, four former ministers named in May 9 case

During the proceedings, defence counsel Ali Zaman sought additional time and requested an adjournment.

After hearing the arguments, the court issued arrest warrants for the five PTI leaders and adjourned the hearing until November 4.

Reports of Afridi's detention emerged shortly after the federal government announced its decision to impose emergency and governor's rule in K-P on October 11 under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution.

The government cited the deteriorating law and order situation and a lack of support from the provincial administration in the fight against terrorism as reasons for the decision. On October 12, the minister of state for interior confirmed that Afridi and some members of his cabinet had been taken into preventive custody.

Case background

The attack on Radio Pakistan’s Peshawar station took place during widespread protests following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan on May 9, 2023. The Express Tribune reported that protesters entered the premises after breaking through the main gate, set fire to the building and vehicles, and damaged equipment.

The arson caused extensive damage to the historic broadcasting station, which began operating in 1935 and was among Pakistan’s oldest radio stations.

In an article published on May 12, 2023, The Express Tribune noted that the fire destroyed century-old valuable archives containing decades of Pashto and Hindko music, dramas, speeches and other recordings. The loss was described as a major cultural setback for regional-language broadcasting, while vehicles and broadcasting equipment were also reduced to ashes.

More than 80 PTI leaders and workers were initially reported to have been nominated in cases related to the 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. The proceedings subsequently focused on establishing the identities of those allegedly involved through video footage, photographs and forensic evidence.

The investigation into the involvement of senior PTI figures became a contentious aspect of the case.

In January, the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory analysed 16 video clips and the footage showed Sohail Afridi, Kamran Bangash, Taimur Saleem Jhagra and Irfan Saleem. However, the report also noted that some clips showed signs of editing or splicing, underscoring the need to assess the evidence carefully.