Islamabad ATC directs police to arrest KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and other PTI-backed lawmakers in cases linked to November 26 protests.
Web Desk: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed lawmakers in cases related to the November 26, 2024 protests.
According to Geo News, ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra directed the Station House Officer (SHO) of Islamabad’s Ramna Police Station to arrest the accused and produce them before the court.
Warrants issued in Ramna case
The case registered at Ramna Police Station names KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, provincial Information Minister Shafi Jan, MNA Shahid Ahmed Khattak and MPA Meena Khan Afridi.
The case was registered under terrorism and other charges over their alleged involvement in violent protests on November 26, 2024.
The November 26 protest was organised by PTI supporters as part of efforts to pressure the government for the release of party founder Imran Khan, who has remained incarcerated since August 2023.
Eight more PTI-backed lawmakers face warrants
In a separate case linked to the same protests, the ATC also issued non-bailable arrest warrants for eight PTI-backed lawmakers.
Those named in the case include MNAs Shahid Khattak, Maulana Nasim Ali Shah, Aamir Dogar, Atif Khan and Iqbal Afridi, along with MPAs Meena Khan Afridi, Dr Amjad and Shafi Jan.
The court directed police to arrest the suspects and present them before the court.
Court rejects exemption pleas
The development came a day after the ATC upheld arrest warrants for KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Junaid Akbar, Abdul Ghani Afridi and others in another November 26 protest case.
The court rejected requests seeking exemption from personal appearance after the accused repeatedly failed to appear during proceedings.
The court also directed police to submit the challan at the earliest and adjourned the hearing until September 30.
