PESHAWAR: The brother of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has approached the Peshawar High Court (PHC), seeking his whereabouts and recovery. Muhammad Amir filed a petition requesting immediate legal action to trace his brother and establish his current status.
The petition was submitted through senior counsel Bashir Khan Wazir. It names the provincial inspector general of police, Peshawar capital city police officer and other relevant authorities as respondents. Amir has asked the court to direct these officials to take effective measures to locate Sohail Afridi.
The development follows claims by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) about the alleged abduction of Afridi and several party leaders. On October 11, the federal government imposed an emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution.
PTI claimed on the same day that Sohail Afridi, several cabinet members and party leaders had been abducted. However, officials confirmed the following day that Afridi and some cabinet members were in preventive custody. The state minister for interior said individuals facing pending cases would be charged and tried, while others would be released.
In his petition, Amir described his brother’s alleged detention and disappearance as illegal. He argued that authorities had not disclosed any lawful order, warrant or other legal basis for taking him into custody.
The petitioner has requested a comprehensive report explaining Afridi’s whereabouts, current condition and legal status. He has also asked authorities to detail the steps taken to trace and recover the chief minister.
A specific request concerns an alleged incident at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar around 2pm on October 11, 2026. Amir wants the Peshawar capital city police officer to explain the circumstances surrounding the incident. The report should also identify the individuals present, the security arrangements and the actions taken afterwards.
The petition further seeks the preservation and examination of relevant evidence. This includes CCTV footage, security logs, entry and exit registers, duty rosters and vehicle access records. Footage from nearby entrances, exits and adjoining routes should also be preserved, according to the request.
Amir has additionally sought the registration of a first information report (FIR). He has called for a prompt, impartial and effective investigation into the alleged abduction, disappearance and unlawful detention.
The petition asks the court to order Sohail Afridi’s immediate release if authorities establish that he is being held unlawfully. It also seeks interim relief while the court considers the case.
Under the requested interim measures, authorities would have to establish Afridi’s whereabouts and submit a preliminary report within a court-determined timeframe. If he is found in the custody or control of any person or authority, the petitioner wants him produced before the court.
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The court would then be able to examine the legal basis of any detention. The petition seeks judicial intervention to clarify the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident and determine the appropriate legal action.
