ISLAMABAD, Jan 28 (ABC): An Islamabad district and sessions court on Wednesday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi after he repeatedly failed to appear in a case related to alleged misleading statements against state institutions.
Senior Civil Judge Abbas Shah issued the warrant after the chief minister did not attend the hearing despite multiple court summons. The judge ordered law enforcement authorities to arrest Afridi and produce him before the court.
The court adjourned further proceedings in the case until February 10.
Case registered under cybercrime law
The case was registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act.
Investigators accused the KP chief minister of making statements that allegedly damaged the reputation of state institutions. The court observed that Afridi ignored repeated summons and showed no lawful justification for his absence.
The judge noted that the continued non-appearance appeared to be an attempt to avoid the legal process.
Allegations linked to Adiala Jail statement
Authorities registered the case after Afridi made remarks during a media interaction outside Adiala Jail on November 6, 2025.
According to the first information report, he alleged that security forces would bring dogs into mosques in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The statement triggered public criticism and condemnation.
Officials registered the FIR on November 9 under Sections 11, 20 and 26-A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016.
The FIR stated that Afridi knowingly made false and misleading remarks, which were recorded and circulated on social media platforms, including a political party’s YouTube channel.
Investigators alleged that the content aimed to harm the credibility of state institutions and spread unrest.
Other legal proceedings underway
Apart from the cybercrime case, Afridi is also facing proceedings before an anti-terrorism court over his alleged role in the November 26 protest in Islamabad.
He is further facing a case before the Election Commission of Pakistan over an alleged violation of the code of conduct during a recent National Assembly by-election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
PHC restrains ECP in separate case
A day earlier, the Peshawar High Court restrained the Election Commission from taking action against the chief minister in a separate case.
A two-member bench heard Afridi’s petition challenging an ECP notice linked to alleged threats made during the Haripur by-election campaign.
His counsel argued that the speech cited by the ECP took place outside the constituency and formed part of a province-wide development tour.
The high court summoned the ECP record and adjourned the hearing.