Key Takeaways
- An Anti-Terrorism Court initiated proceedings against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister's Adviser Sohail Afridi, PTI leader Junaid Akbar, and Abdul Ghani Afridi.
- The accused failed to appear despite repeated summons in a case related to the November 26 protest.
- Non-bailable arrest warrants were issued for the accused on June 23, 2026.
An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has initiated proclaimed offender proceedings against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister's Adviser Sohail Afridi, PTI leader Junaid Akbar, and Abdul Ghani Afridi. The court took this action following their continued non-appearance despite repeated summons in a case related to the November 26 protest.
According to reports from Associated Press of Pakistan and Dawn, ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra examined a progress report submitted by the Islamabad police regarding the investigation into a first information report (FIR) registered at Margalla police station over the November 26 incidents. The report stated that the court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Sohail Afridi, Junaid Akbar, and Abdul Ghani Afridi through its order dated June 23, 2026.
Despite these measures, the accused failed to appear before the court. In response to the court’s notice seeking an explanation for the delay in the submission of the challan against the accused, the police informed that repeated efforts had been made but were unsuccessful. The report added that, due to their continued non-compliance with the warrants, proclamation proceedings had been initiated against them.
The ATC judge noted that once the proclamation process is completed, preparation of the challan under Section 173 (Report of police officer) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) would enter its final stage. This means that the accused will face further legal action if they do not comply with the court’s orders.
The case highlights the ongoing tensions and legal challenges surrounding protests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly those involving political figures and their supporters. The non-appearance of these individuals has raised concerns about the effectiveness of law enforcement and judicial processes in addressing such incidents.
Legal experts have stated that the initiation of proclaimed offender proceedings is a serious step, indicating that the court views the non-compliance as a significant issue. They also noted that this could lead to further legal complications for those involved if they do not appear before the court voluntarily or through other means.
The case underscores the complexities and challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in ensuring compliance with court orders during politically sensitive times, especially when dealing with high-profile individuals.
