An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Peshawar has issued arrest warrants for suspended Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and four other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) figures in connection with the May 9, 2023, attack on Radio Pakistan’s Peshawar building. The court issued the warrants after the prosecution submitted the challan, formally nominating the five individuals as accused in the case.
The other individuals named in the challan are former provincial ministers Taimur Saleem Jhagra and Kamran Khan Bangash, PTI Peshawar President Irfan Saleem and party activist Amir Khan Chamkani. During Wednesday’s hearing, ATC Judge Wali Muhammad Khan observed that the submission of the challan and nomination of the suspects warranted the issuance of arrest warrants in accordance with the law.
Radio Pakistan’s counsel, Shabbir Hussain Gigyani, told the court that video footage of the incident was available and requested verification of the identities of those appearing in the recordings. The court obtained forensic reports from NADRA Islamabad and the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory in Lahore to assist in identifying individuals through video footage and photographs.
According to the prosecution, forensic analysis of crime-scene footage indicated that the accused were present at the location. Gigyani said the police investigation had been completed but the challan had taken nearly six months to reach the court. He added that more than 80 suspects had been nominated in the case, with five included in the submitted challan over their alleged involvement in the attack. Defence counsel Ali Zaman requested additional time, after which the court adjourned proceedings until November 4.
The case relates to the attack and arson at Radio Pakistan’s Peshawar station during violent protests on May 9 and 10, 2023, following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan by paramilitary Rangers at the Islamabad High Court. The incident caused extensive damage to the broadcasting facility, which began operating in 1935 and is among Pakistan’s oldest radio stations.
An official report prepared after the incident said the fire destroyed valuable archival recordings, including decades of Pashto and Hindko music, dramas, speeches and other material. Vehicles and broadcasting equipment were also reportedly destroyed, resulting in significant losses for the historic station and regional-language broadcasting.
The investigation has included efforts to identify those allegedly involved through video footage, photographs and forensic analysis. In January, the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory reportedly examined 16 video clips showing several of the named PTI figures. However, the report also noted signs of editing or splicing in some clips, highlighting the importance of carefully assessing the material.
The court’s latest order marks another development in the legal proceedings concerning the Radio Pakistan attack. The allegations against the five individuals remain subject to the judicial process, and the case is scheduled to resume on November 4.
