Police review forensic findings as decision looms on nominating Sohail Afridi in Radio Pakistan attack case
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. SCREENGRAB
The Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory (PFSL) has completed a verification report of video footage related to the May 9 incidents in Peshawar, confirming the presence of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in the recorded material, along with Kamran Bangash, Taimur Jhagra and Irfan Saleem.
According to the forensic report, PFSL conducted a detailed audio-visual analysis of videos provided by Peshawar Police following a request from the authorities. The report is based on 16 video clips contained in a USB drive submitted by Police Station Sharqi, Peshawar.
The laboratory carried out frame-by-frame analysis of the footage. While several videos showed no signs of tampering, some clips indicated insertions of people and text, and in two videos featuring CM Afridi and Irfan Saleem, evidence of clip splicing was detected.
Read: CM Afridi convoy delayed en route to Bagh-e-Jinnah as PTI cries foul over ‘blocked’ roads
The report states that the profile photographs of Sohail Afridi, Irfan Saleem, Kamran Bangash and Taimur Jhagra were matched with individuals appearing in the videos. In all four cases, the individuals in the footage were confirmed to be the same persons as in their respective profile images.
The forensic review was conducted between December 19 and December 23, 2025, and the analysis was limited strictly to the visual content, the report added.
The Anti-Terrorism Court had earlier directed the police to obtain the forensic report in connection with the Radio Pakistan attack case.
Meanwhile, Peshawar Police have begun consultations on nominating CM Afridi as an accused after the findings of Punjab Forenic Science Laboratory. Members of the investigation team said the investigation officer and SSP Investigation have briefed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa IG, and legal assistance has been sought from the police’s legal branch.
Investigators confirmed that a detailed review of the PFSL report is under way and that the police are now obligated to submit a supplementary challan in the case.
The FIR related to the Radio Pakistan attack was registered at Police Station Sharqi, and the USB containing footage of the chief minister’s alleged presence had been sent to the PFSL for verification.
The forensic report was received by police three days ago and it was formally submitted to the court.
