Islamabad ATC starts proclamation process against KP CM, two PTI leaders

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Friday began proclamation proceedings against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, PTI leader Junaid Akbar and Abdul Ghani Afridi after they did not appear before the court despite non-bailable arrest warrants issued earlier in a case linked to the November 26 protest.

ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra heard the matter and reviewed a progress report submitted by Islamabad police in connection with the first information report registered at Margalla police station over the Nov 26 incident. Which was filed through the office of the deputy inspector general of Islamabad police, the investigation has been completed.

The police also submitted a reply to the court notice seeking an explanation for the delay in filing the challan against the accused. In its report, the investigating agency said the court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Sohail Afridi, Junaid Akbar and Abdul Ghani Afridi through an order dated June 23, 2026, but the warrants could not be carried out despite repeated attempts, and the three accused did not appear before the court.

The report told the court that, because the warrants remained uncomplied with, proclamation proceedings had been initiated in accordance with the law. Once that process is completed, preparation of the challan under Section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure would reach its final stage.

Court reviews police report

According to the police submission, the challan will be placed before the court immediately after legal formalities connected with the proclamation process are completed. The investigating agency maintained that there had been no negligence, unnecessary delay or lack of effort on the part of police during the investigation or in attempts to arrest the accused, and said all legal steps required to secure their appearance had been taken.

After examining the report, Judge Sipra formally initiated proclamation proceedings against the three accused over their continued absence despite the issuance of non-bailable arrest warrants. The court then adjourned the case until September 9 and directed that the matter be taken up after completion of the remaining legal process and submission of the challan.

Case background

The case arises from a protest held on Nov 26, 2024, after which a criminal case was registered at Margalla police station against Afridi and other protesters. Law enforcement authorities began investigating the matter, while repeated delays in submission of the challan had drawn the court’s attention.