NCCIA investigation found that the accused “knowingly” made offensive and defamatory statements against government institutions
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi made a controversial statement during a media briefing outside Adiala Jail. SCREEN GRAB
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has registered a case against Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for allegedly making “false, misleading, derogatory and intimidating” remarks against government institutions, according to an FIR filed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.
The FIR has been lodged against Muhammad Sohail, son of Muhammad Sattar, a resident of Bara, Khyber, under Sections 11, 20 and 26-A of PECA. The registration follows the conclusion of an inquiry which was completed on 8 November 2025.
The investigation found that the accused “knowingly and knowingly used malicious intent” to make statements deemed offensive and defamatory of government institutions. These remarks were conveyed through social media platforms, including a YouTube channel affiliated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) media network.
The video in question, titled “Chief Minister Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi addresses media outside Adiala Jail”, allegedly contained statements described in the FIR as “profane”, “baseless”, and intended to malign the reputation and integrity of state institutions.
According to the FIR, the content was shared publicly with the intent “to undermine public confidence in state institutions, incite racial hatred, create unrest and destabilize national security.” It further states that Muhammad Sohail “prepared, published and circulated misleading content” with the intention of inciting “violence, panic, fear, disorder and unrest among the public.”
The case is being investigated by Sub-Inspector Waseem Khan of Cyber Crime Reporting Center (CCRC) Islamabad with formal clearance from relevant authorities.
A senior officer speaks Express on condition of anonymity, confirmed that CM Afridi, has been named in an FIR due to a controversial statement. The investigation has been handed over to Sub-Inspector Waseem Khan of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, who is scheduled to formally begin the investigation on Monday.
Speaking to reporters outside the Adiala jail, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister defended his remarks, saying that both civilians and security personnel bore the brunt of the state’s politics. “My civilians are dying and the soldier who is dying is also my brother. Both are becoming martyrs because of wrong political decisions,” he said.
He said decisions regarding the province should not be made without consulting those directly affected. “We object to this policy that decisions should not be taken in closed rooms. KP’s stakeholders should be taken into confidence in these matters.”
Read: KP CM Afridi’s remarks trigger backlash
Recalling past experiences of conflicts in the tribal belt, the chief minister said, “You talk about military operations, do you know how much pain comes from military operations? Are you aware of this? I am, I have experienced it. I have personally lifted the bodies of ten members of my family with my own hands.”
He went on to claim that during previous operations ordinary citizens had faced severe hardship. “When we used to lift dead bodies, the security forces used to shoot at us. They have seen those scenes. We have seen our mosques become martyrs. We have seen our houses destroyed. When they were thrown out of their homes, our tribal women walked the roads bareheaded and barefooted.”
He further claimed that disrespect of religious places had taken place. “We have also seen that security forces used to tie dogs in our mosques and when we would go and say that this was disrespecting the mosque, they would say that these dogs and you are the same. Despite that, see our patience that we still say that the army is ours and the country is ours.”
