KP chief minister Sohail Afridi has been formally listed as an accused in the 2023 Radio Pakistan attack.
The anti‑terrorism court in Peshawar received a supplementary charge sheet on Thursday, expanding the investigation to include the province’s chief minister and four senior Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) figures. The prosecution alleges that the political leaders had a role—direct or indirect—in the May 2023 assault that ransacked the state broadcaster’s Peshawar building, shattered equipment, and temporarily halted radio transmissions across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The May attack, which coincided with nationwide protests against the federal government, left the Radio Pakistan premises heavily damaged and sparked fears of a coordinated attempt to silence a key state media outlet. Security forces detained several suspects shortly after the incident, but the case lingered for three years without any high‑profile political names on the docket—until now.
Legal experts say the inclusion of a sitting chief minister signals a watershed moment for the province’s judiciary and could reshape the political landscape ahead of the next provincial elections. If the court finds sufficient evidence, Afridi could face disqualification from office, while the other PTI leaders risk lengthy custodial sentences. The defense is expected to petition for bail and argue that the charges are politically motivated.
The development arrives amid a broader crackdown on PTI members across the country, raising concerns among journalists and civil‑society groups about the balance between counter‑terrorism measures and political rights. As the anti‑terrorism court schedules its first hearing for next week, the case is poised to become a litmus test for Pakistan’s ability to separate genuine security threats from partisan prosecutions.