Islamabad Court Issues Non-Bailable Arrest Warrant for KP CM Sohail Afridi

Mar 10, 2026 | Politics, PTI

Legal pressures on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) leadership intensified on Monday, March 9, 2026, as an Islamabad civil court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. The warrants were issued after the CM failed to appear for a scheduled hearing regarding his alleged anti-state remarks made on social media.

The PECA Case: Allegations of Defaming Institutions

The case, registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), stems from a media interaction Afridi had outside Adiala Jail on November 6, 2025.

  • The Allegation: Afridi reportedly claimed that security forces had brought dogs into mosques in KP, an accusation the state argues was “deliberately made with mala fide intentions” to incite hatred and undermine public trust in national security institutions.
  • Court Observation: Senior Civil Judge Syed Abbas Shah noted that the Chief Minister had consistently ignored multiple summons. The court termed his persistent absence a “deliberate attempt to evade the legal process.”
  • Next Steps: The police have been ordered to arrest the CM and produce him in court by the next hearing on March 26, 2026.

Aleema Khan Granted Exemption in Protest Case

In a separate legal development at an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi, Aleema Khan was granted a one-day exemption from her personal appearance.

  • The Case: She is nominated in a case registered at the Sadiqabad Police Station related to the PTI-led protests on November 26.
  • Outcome: The court accepted the request submitted by her counsel and adjourned the hearing until tomorrow, Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

KP vs. The Center

The issuance of arrest warrants for a sitting Chief Minister marks a significant escalation in the ongoing friction between the federal government and the KP provincial administration. CM Afridi, who has been tasked by Imran Khan to lead a “street movement,” now faces the challenge of managing provincial governance while navigating multiple legal battles in the federal capital.

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Enforcement of the Warrant

It remains to be seen if the Islamabad police will attempt to execute the warrant in Peshawar, as previous attempts have often led to political standoffs between provincial and federal law enforcement agencies. The KP government has yet to issue an official response regarding the CM’s legal strategy for the March 26 hearing.

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