The Islamabad district court has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi after his repeated failure to appear in court regarding a case involving misleading allegations against state institutions and damaging their reputation.
Senior Civil Judge Abbas Shah conducted the hearing on Thursday on a case filed under the PECA Act, where the National Cyber Crime Agency (NCCIA) had accused Sohail Afridi of making false statements. Despite the seriousness of the charges, Afridi and his lawyer failed to appear before the court on the scheduled date.
The court had previously issued bailable arrest warrants for Afridi on December 11, following his initial absence from the proceedings. However, the new ruling marks an escalation, with the court issuing non-bailable warrants in light of his continued non-compliance.
Officials from the NCCIA and the investigation officer in the case were present in court, while Afridi’s legal team was notably absent. Following the latest ruling, the court has adjourned the case until January 3, 2026, allowing time for Afridi to comply with the summons or face further legal consequences.