Police review forensic findings as decision to nominate Sohail Afridi in Radio Pakistan attack case looms
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. SCREEN GRAB
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, the PFSL conducted a detailed audio-visual analysis of videos provided by the 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 performed frame-by-frame analysis of the footage. While several videos showed no signs of tampering, some clips indicated the insertion of people and text, and in two videos featuring CM Afridi and Irfan Saleem, evidence of clip splicing was discovered.
Read: CM Afridi convoy delayed on way to Bagh-e-Jinnah as PTI cries foul over ‘blocked’ roads
The report says the profile pictures of Sohail Afridi, Irfan Saleem, Kamran Bangash and Taimur Jhagra were matched with people who appeared in the videos. In all four cases, the people in the footage were confirmed to be the same people as in their respective profile pictures.
The forensic review was conducted between December 19 and December 23, 2025, and the analysis was strictly limited 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, the Peshawar Police has initiated consultations to nominate CM Afridi as an accused following the findings of the Punjab Forenic Science Laboratory. Members of the investigation team said the investigating officer and SSP Investigation have briefed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa IG and legal assistance has been sought from the police legal department.
Investigators confirmed that a detailed review of the PFSL report is underway and that the police are now required to submit a supplementary file in the case.
The FIR related to the Radio Pakistan attack was registered at police station Sharqi and the USB with recordings of the Chief Minister’s alleged presence had been sent to PFSL for verification.
The forensic report was received by the police three days ago and was formally submitted to the court.
