Islamabad: An anti-terrorism court on Thursday initiated absconder proceedings against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Sohail Afridi after he repeatedly failed to appear in a case linked to a late-November protest last year, according to court officials.
Judge Opens Hearing on Protest Case
Judge Abu al-Hasanat Zulqarnain of the Anti-Terrorism Court heard the case, which stems from a first information report registered over a protest held on November 26. The complaint names the chief minister and several other political figures for their alleged involvement.

Repeated Absences Prompt Action
Despite multiple court summons, none of the accused appeared before the judge. As a result, the court moved to begin formal absconder proceedings against CM Sohail Afridi, marking a significant escalation in the case.
Other Provincial Officials Also Named
Proceedings were also launched against Provincial Minister Meena Khan Afridi and Dr. Amjad, who are similarly accused in the protest-related case and have not complied with earlier court notices.
The court is expected to issue further directives in the coming days as it seeks to compel the appearance of the named officials.
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