PESHAWAR: An anti-terrorism court here on Monday directed the investigating officer to submit the charge sheet in the May 9, 2023, Radio Pakistan attack case after the IO sought more time to complete the charge sheet.

ATC Judge Wali Mohammad heard the case, while IO DSP Khushal Khan submitted a progress report. Defence counsel Ali Zaman appeared for the accused.

The IO told the court that additional time was required to complete the charge sheet. The court, however, directed him to submit the report.

The IO also informed the court that former provincial minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra had yet to join the investigation.

Defence counsel Ali Zaman sought a later date, saying he was engaged in other cases and required time to prepare the case.

In a previous progress report, police had nominated Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, former provincial ministers Taimur Saleem Jhagra and Kamran Bangash, PTI Peshawar district president Irfan Saleem and activist Amir Chamkani as accused in the case.

Police said they made the nominations on reports from the National Database and Registration Authority and the Punjab Forensic Science Agency’s identification from video footage and photographs.

The defence has disputed the identification and the connection of some video clips with the Radio Pakistan incident.

The case relates to the attack, vandalism and arson at the Radio Pakistan Peshawar building during the May 9-10, 2023 unrest.

The ATC had earlier directed the IO to submit a comprehensive report after declaring an earlier investigation report inconclusive.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2026