An Islamabad district and sessions court has issued a non bailable arrest warrant for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in a cybercrime and defamation case. The court took action after the chief minister did not appear before the judge even after repeated summons.
The case was filed by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). Authorities accused Afridi of spreading misleading statements and damaging the reputation of state institutions through electronic platforms.
Senior Civil Judge Abbas Shah heard the case and directed law enforcement agencies to arrest Afridi and present him before the court. The hearing was later adjourned, and the next date was fixed for February 21.
This is the second time the court has issued a non bailable arrest warrant against the KP chief minister. A similar warrant had already been issued last month, showing increasing legal pressure on the provincial leader.
Afridi is also facing trouble in connection with the May 9, 2023 riots case. Reports from the Punjab Forensic Science Agency and Nadra reportedly linked video evidence to him. The court has asked for a complete report on this matter on February 14.
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The May 9 riots began after the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan from Islamabad High Court in a corruption case. During the protests, several civil and military installations were attacked across the country, creating a major national crisis.
Despite legal challenges, Afridi remained firm in his political stance. Speaking at a convocation ceremony at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar, he said he was ready to talk to everyone for the province’s interests.
He said he would not allow Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to become a testing ground again. He also stated he would not seek personal favors but would hold talks with anyone if it benefited the province.
Afridi warned that no one should try to impose “closed-door” decisions through pressure. He emphasized that institutions must respect each other’s roles, adding that interference between institutions had harmed Pakistan’s economic stability.
He also revealed that he had met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and security officials to discuss law and order. He said peace and stability were the top priorities, and development would only be possible after improving security.
Afridi concluded by saying his government would not support policies that had harmed the province in the past.
