PESHAWAR (Dunya News) - An anti-terrorism court has issued arrest warrants for Sohail Afridi and other suspects in the May 9 Radio Pakistan attack case, according to a written order.
The court’s order stated that Special Prosecutor Naumanul Haq Kakakhel had been denotified, while nine suspects in the Radio Pakistan cases remained absconders.
According to the order, the prosecution had submitted a supplementary police challan to the court. The report named Sohail Afridi, Kamran Bangash, Taimur Jhagra, Irfan Saleem and Amir Khan Chamkani, who have not yet been arrested.
The court issued arrest warrants under Section 204 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and adjourned the hearing until November 4.
Legal experts said the court’s order authorised police to arrest Sohail Afridi and the other suspects. They said police could arrest Afridi at any time and were responsible for producing the suspects before the court.
According to the experts, pre-trial proceedings would begin once the accused appeared before the court. They added that the court could also remand Afridi to police custody for investigation, while an accused must appear in person to seek bail.
The experts further said that suspects who failed to appear before the court could be declared proclaimed offenders. They warned that such a declaration could carry additional legal consequences, including a possible sentence of up to 10 years, while Afridi could also face disqualification proceedings before the Election Commission.