ISLAMABAD: The District and Sessions Court in Islamabad has upheld arrest warrants against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in a case involving alleged misleading statements about state institutions. Despite earlier court directives for the chief minister’s presence, he remained absent, leading to further delays.
The absence of Sohail Afridi, who is charged with making misrepresentations that undermined public trust and damaged state credibility, has stalled proceedings. The hearing took place under the presiding Senior Civil Judge Abbas Shah at the Islamabad courts. While it was stated that the chief minister could not be physically present for the court session, the judge ordered that the arrest warrants remain in force.
A court order emphasized compliance with directives to advance the case, particularly ensuring Afridi’s arrest and presentation for the upcoming hearing. The prosecution informed the court about the initial registration of the case under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency.
The judge adjourned further proceedings until March 9th, stressing the need for swift action from authorities to proceed with the investigation. This development underscores ongoing tensions in Pakistan regarding public trust and state institution integrity, particularly within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.