A Peshawar anti-terrorism court has started steps to have former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Sohail Afridi and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist Aamir Chamkani declared proclaimed offenders in the Radio Pakistan attack case. The case concerns the assault on the historic Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar during violent protests on May 9 and 10, 2023, which followed the arrest of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan.
The court is trying around 75 accused, among them serving and former lawmakers. The accused were charged on multiple counts in June last year and pleaded not guilty. Afridi, together with PTI leaders Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Kamran Bangash and Irfan Saleem, was named in the case after forensic examination of video footage and identity verification reports.
Court issues notices and warns of proclamation
The move came after the Peshawar ATC reissued arrest warrants for Afridi three days earlier, citing his continued absence from proceedings in the case. At the latest hearing, the court served notices under Section 87 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) on both men. It ordered that the notices be displayed at their residences and offices.
Also read: Court reissues arrest warrants for KP CM Sohail Afridi
According to the court, the two accused will be declared proclaimed offenders under Section 512 if they do not appear. The court also stated that permanent arrest warrants would be issued once such a declaration is made.
During the hearing, the prosecution told the court that Afridi had been nominated following a complaint lodged by Radio Pakistan. The prosecution added that more than 80 suspects have been named in the May 9 Radio Pakistan attack case.
Afridi’s detention during the PTI long march
Afridi was leading a PTI long march towards Islamabad when he was taken into custody after the emergency and governor’s rule were imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11. The march had begun on October 4 as part of the party’s protest campaign against the federal government. He has not been seen in public since his detention.
Afridi was reportedly taken from the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar once the emergency was announced. State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry confirmed the detention a day later in a conversation with an international news agency.
Emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and legal challenges
President Asif Ali Zardari proclaimed the emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11, 2026, acting on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution. The federal government pointed to a deteriorating law and order situation and what it described as a lack of cooperation from the provincial administration in the fight against terrorism.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi was given responsibility for provincial affairs, assisted by an advisory council, while the provincial government’s administrative and legislative powers passed under constitutional provisions. The step effectively ended PTI’s provincial government and set off a fresh confrontation between the ruling coalition and the opposition.
PTI and the families of Afridi and other detained leaders approached the Peshawar High Court seeking their recovery. However, the Federal Constitutional Court barred the high court from hearing petitions on detentions under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance and on matters arising after October 11, and the PHC subsequently removed the relevant cases from its cause list.
The PTI and other opposition parties have challenged the constitutional basis of the emergency and governor’s rule. They are calling for judicial review and the recovery of detained leaders.
