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Islamabad court issues a non-bailable arrest warrant for CM Afridi intensifies legal pressure
An Islamabad district and sessions court has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, escalating legal pressure on the provincial chief executive amid multiple ongoing cases.
The warrant was issued on Wednesday by Senior Civil Judge Abbas Shah, who directed law enforcement authorities to arrest and produce the chief minister before the court after his repeated failure to appear in a cybercrime case.
Court Issues Arrest Warrant After Repeated Absence
According to court proceedings, CM Afridi had been summoned multiple times but failed to attend the hearings. Taking serious notice of his continued non-appearance, the court concluded that coercive measures were necessary to ensure compliance with judicial orders.
The judge ordered authorities to execute the non-bailable arrest warrant and present the accused before the court. The matter has been adjourned until February 10, when further proceedings are expected.
Cybercrime Allegations Under PECA
The case was registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). Investigators allege that CM Afridi made misleading and inflammatory statements on digital platforms that harmed the reputation of state institutions.
Officials maintain that the content in question crossed legal boundaries set under PECA, prompting formal action against the chief minister. The case has drawn national attention due to Afridi’s constitutional position and the nature of the allegations.
Source:
KP Assembly
Multiple Legal Challenges Facing CM Afridi
Beyond the cybercrime case, CM Afridi is facing proceedings in an anti-terrorism court related to his alleged involvement in the November 26 protest in Islamabad. Authorities claim the protest led to unrest, placing the chief minister under further legal scrutiny.
In addition, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has initiated proceedings against Afridi for an alleged violation of the code of conduct during a recent National Assembly by-election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
PHC Intervention in ECP Proceedings
A day before the arrest warrant was issued, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) intervened in one of the cases involving the ECP. A two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Faheem Wali restrained the election watchdog from issuing a final order against CM Afridi.
The bench heard a writ petition filed by Afridi, represented by counsel Bashir Khan Wazir, who argued that the ECP had acted beyond its jurisdiction. The lawyer maintained that the speech cited by the ECP was delivered outside the relevant by-election constituency and during an official province-wide development tour.
The court summoned the ECP’s decision record and briefly adjourned the hearing for further review.
Political and Legal Implications
The Islamabad court’s decision to issue a non-bailable arrest warrant for CM Afridi marks a significant and potentially far-reaching development in Pakistan’s evolving political and legal landscape. Legal analysts believe the move could have serious implications for governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, potentially affecting administrative stability and decision-making at the provincial level. The warrant is also being viewed as a development that may further intensify tensions between federal institutions and the provincial leadership at a time when relations remain politically sensitive.
With multiple cases unfolding simultaneously across different legal forums, observers say the coming weeks will be crucial in shaping the political and legal future of CM Sohail Afridi, as well as the broader power dynamics between the center and the province.
