PESHAWAR – The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday granted protective bail to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi until November 18, providing him interim legal relief amid uncertainty over multiple cases reportedly filed against him.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Naeem Anwar heard the plea submitted by Afridi, in which he requested the court to furnish details of all first information reports (FIRs) registered against him.
Read More: UK Sends 26 Migrants to France, Takes 18 Back
After hearing arguments, the court directed law enforcement authorities not to arrest the chief minister in any ongoing or new case during this period. The bench also ordered the relevant agencies to submit a comprehensive list of cases lodged against him.
During the proceedings, Justice Ijaz Anwar asked, “In which FIRs has Chief Minister Sohail Afridi been nominated?” Responding to this, the Advocate General replied candidly, “We are not aware of how many FIRs there are — perhaps even I might have some against me.”
Read More: French Court Extends Rapist’s Sentence
Outside the court, Chief Minister Afridi spoke briefly to reporters, revealing that he was heading to meet PTI founding chairman Imran Khan, expressing optimism that the meeting would take place soon. “I represent millions of people. Those preventing me from meeting him should realise that I am the chief minister,” Afridi remarked.
He dismissed as fake a purported list of cabinet members circulating on social media, clarifying that the final cabinet will be decided after consultation with PTI founder Imran Khan.
The case marks the latest in a series of legal and political challenges facing PTI leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with Chief Minister Afridi seeking judicial protection as his administration prepares to form a new provincial cabinet.