An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad issued non-bailable arrest warrants on Thursday for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and multiple Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed lawmakers in a case related to the November 26 violent protests. The legal actions target officials over demonstrations organized to press the government for the release of imprisoned PTI founder Imran Khan.
Court Issues Warrants at Ramna Police Station
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra directed the Station House Officer of the Ramna Police Station to arrest four suspects and produce them before the court. The case at Ramna names KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, provincial Information Minister Shafi Jan, MNA Shahid Ahmed Khattak, and MPA Meena Khan Afridi under terrorism and other charges. These demonstrations occurred on November 26, 2024, as part of a PTI campaign demanding freedom for the 73-year-old cricketer-turned-politician, who has remained behind bars since August 2023 following his April 2022 ouster in a no-confidence motion.
Margalla Police Station Case and Additional Warrants
In a separate case registered at the Margalla Police Station concerning the same protests, ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra issued non-bailable arrest warrants for eight PTI-backed lawmakers. The warrants target MNAs Shahid Khattak, Maulana Nasim Ali Shah, Aamir Dogar, Atif Khan, and Iqbal Afridi, alongside MPAs Meena Khan Afridi, Dr Amjad, and Shafi Jan. Subsequent warrants against Chief Minister Afridi extend across multiple jurisdictions in the federal capital. Court filings show separate FIRs filed at Kohsar, Ramna, Karachi Company, and Aabpara police stations involving leaders such as Salar Kakar, Saddam Tareen, Amjad Ali, Junaid Akbar, and Atif.
Did You Know? The November 26, 2024 protest was aimed at building pressure on the government to release the PTI founder Imran Khan, who has faced multiple charges ranging from corruption to terrorism since April 2022.
Legal Precedents and Proceedings
The Thursday rulings followed a Wednesday court session where the ATC upheld arrest warrants for Chief Minister Afridi, Junaid Akbar, Abdul Ghani Afridi, and others after rejecting defense exemption pleas for missing personal appearances. Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra instructed police to submit the challan against the suspects at the earliest, adjourning further hearings to September 30.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were the non-bailable arrest warrants issued for KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and PTI lawmakers?
The anti-terrorism court issued the warrants due to the repeated failure of the accused to appear personally during court proceedings regarding cases registered over the November 26, 2024 violent protests.
What specific charges do the lawmakers face?
The cases against Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, provincial Information Minister Shafi Jan, and other lawmakers were registered under terrorism and other charges at various Islamabad police stations, including Ramna and Margalla.
What is the next scheduled step in the court proceedings?
Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra adjourned further hearings to September 30 and directed police to submit the challan against the suspects at the earliest.
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