The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Thursday issued a stay order suspending the proceedings of the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Peshawar concerning the May 2023 attack on the Radio Pakistan building. This development follows a petition raising serious doubts about the fairness of the trial, particularly as several senior provincial officials, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, are among those accused.
A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, halted the trial and issued notices to 84 respondents involved in the case. The Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), represented by counsel Syed Zulfikar Abbas Naqvi, had requested the court to transfer the case from KP to Islamabad or another province, citing political pressure and executive interference that have compromised the possibility of a fair trial.
The petition detailed a series of contentious actions by the provincial government, including an attempt by the KP cabinet to withdraw from prosecuting cases related to the May 2023 unrest. Notably, the petition revealed a conflict of interest when a special prosecutor, who had previously defended some accused individuals, was briefly appointed to the case. Additionally, the provincial assembly’s effort to establish a parallel investigation committee, which included several accused persons as members, further raised concerns about impartiality.
The case originates from the violent events of 10 May 2023, when a mob of over 70 people reportedly stormed the historic Radio Pakistan premises in Peshawar. The attackers allegedly vandalized the building, set vehicles on fire, and assaulted employees, causing significant damage to the broadcaster’s archives and infrastructure.
Although charges were formally framed by the ATC in June 2025, the PBC maintains that the current judicial environment in Peshawar remains compromised. The petitioner also accused the Prosecutor General’s office of deliberately withholding a supplementary investigation report, which reportedly identifies additional suspects based on forensic evidence from the Punjab Forensic Science Agency and NADRA.
By issuing the stay, the FCC intends to evaluate whether relocating the case is necessary to uphold the rule of law free from provincial political influence.
