Five Members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly (MPAs), including Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, have been formally declared absconders in terrorism-related cases registered in Islamabad, court records showed on Tuesday.
According to court advertisements issued in two cases filed by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Islamabad, the accused declared absconders are Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Meena Khan, Amjad Ali, Shafiullah Jan and Iqbal Afridi. The court has directed all five to appear before it within 30 days, warning that failure to do so will lead to further legal action.
Official notices carrying their names have been published, marking the formal declaration of their absconder status. Judicial authorities said the step was taken after repeated failures by the accused to appear before the court despite the issuance of summons.
Police sources said the five are among a large number of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers facing criminal cases in the federal capital. According to law enforcement records, nearly 80 percent of PTI MPAs in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly are facing cases registered in Islamabad. Out of 92 PTI MPAs, at least 70 are reportedly wanted by Islamabad Police.
Officials said the cases involve serious charges, including provisions of anti-terrorism laws and allegations related to the killing of police and Rangers personnel. Many of these cases stem from violent protests and clashes that occurred between 2022 and November 2024. Police added that most of the accused lawmakers have not obtained bail.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi is wanted in at least 11 cases in Islamabad, including seven registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act and others linked to attacks on law enforcement personnel. His declaration as an absconder marks a significant development, as a sitting provincial chief executive is now formally wanted in terrorism-related proceedings.
Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur faces the highest number of cases among PTI leaders, with police records showing 52 FIRs registered against him across 18 police stations in Islamabad during the same period.
In a related development, Islamabad Police confirmed that a case has also been registered against Aqibullah, the brother of former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, at the Secretariat Police Station.
Authorities said investigations into all cases are ongoing, and further proceedings are expected once the 30-day deadline issued to the absconding MPAs expires.
