Court Issues Non-Bailable Warrants for KP Chief Minister

ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk) -An Islamabad district and sessions court on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in a case involving the alleged defamation of state institutions.

The warrants were issued after the chief minister failed to appear before the court despite multiple summons. The case, registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), accuses Afridi of spreading misleading allegations that damaged the reputation of state institutions.

Senior Civil Judge Abbas Shah, who presided over the hearing, directed the relevant authorities to arrest and produce the KP chief minister before the court. The hearing was subsequently adjourned, with February 21 fixed as the next date.

This marks the second time the district and sessions court has issued non-bailable warrants against Afridi, as a similar order was passed last month due to his continued absence.

Sohail Afridi accuses Punjab, Sindh rulers of blocking rallies

The latest development adds to the legal challenges facing the KP chief executive. Earlier this month, reports submitted by the Punjab Forensic Science Agency and NADRA linked video evidence from the May 9 riots to Afridi, prompting the court to seek a comprehensive report by February 14.

The May 9, 2023, unrest erupted following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan from the Islamabad High Court premises in a corruption case. During the violence, protesters attacked several civil and military installations across the country.

CM Afridi’s Statement on KP Interests

Separately, while addressing a convocation ceremony at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar, Chief Minister Afridi said he was prepared to engage with all stakeholders when it came to protecting the interests of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He stressed that he would not allow the province to be turned into a “testing ground” once again, adding that while he would never seek personal favours, he was willing to sit with anyone — regardless of personal differences — for the sake of the province.

Commenting on the law and order situation, Afridi revealed that he had met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and that a meeting of the Apex Committee had also taken place. He said further engagements with security officials were planned, emphasizing that peace and stability were prerequisites for development.

The chief minister warned against imposing decisions through intimidation and said institutions must respect each other’s constitutional boundaries. He remarked that institutional interference had become a major obstacle to economic stability in Pakistan.

Afridi concluded by stating that his government would no longer support what he described as failed policies that had harmed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the years.