The Peshawar High Court has scheduled hearings on petitions seeking the recovery of former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Sohail Afridi and provincial assembly speaker Babar Saleem Swati following allegations of abduction and unlawful detention.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court has scheduled October 20 hearings on petitions seeking the recovery of former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Sohail Afridi and provincial assembly speaker Babar Saleem Swati, according to a report published by Express News on Saturday.

The petitions seek judicial intervention over the alleged abduction and detention of the two political figures following the imposition of emergency measures and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Sohail Afridi’s Brother Files Petition

According to the petition filed by Muhammad Aamir Afridi, Sohail Afridi’s brother, armed and masked individuals allegedly took the former chief minister from the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar on October 11.

The petitioner alleged that the incident occurred in the presence of the Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) and described the detention as a violation of constitutional protections and fundamental rights.

The petition seeks Sohail Afridi’s recovery and production before the court. It also asks the authorities to disclose his whereabouts, identify the legal basis for his detention and investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The allegations contained in the petition have not, by themselves, established that an abduction occurred. The circumstances of the incident and the legality of any detention remain matters for verification and judicial consideration.

Separate Petition Seeks Babar Swati’s Recovery

A separate petition has also been filed seeking the recovery of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati.

The applications have brought the whereabouts and detention of the two provincial political figures before the high court. The court hearings scheduled for October 20 are expected to address the petitions in accordance with the proceedings and material presented before it.

Political Developments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The legal proceedings follow the federal government’s imposition of emergency measures and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11, which suspended the PTI-led provincial government’s functions.

The federal government cited security concerns and the handling of militant violence as grounds for its action, while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf rejected the move and challenged its political and constitutional implications.

On October 12, a state minister for interior confirmed that Sohail Afridi and some provincial cabinet members had been placed in preventive custody. Officials said individuals facing pending cases would be dealt with through legal proceedings, while others could be released.

The petitions therefore raise questions about the legal basis for custody, disclosure of whereabouts and the safeguards available under Pakistan’s constitutional framework.

Court Proceedings to Determine Next Steps

The October 20 hearings will provide an opportunity for the court to consider the petitioners’ requests and any responses submitted by the relevant authorities.

Further details about the court’s directions, the legal status of the two leaders and any subsequent developments should be added once confirmed through court records or reliable reporting.