In Peshawar, the controversy surrounding the alleged involvement of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in the May 9 case has further intensified following the submission of reports from the Punjab Forensic Science Agency and NADRA, bringing new developments in the legal proceedings.
According to the report received from the Punjab Forensic Lab, the available evidence has been linked to Sohail Afridi, while recent reports obtained from NADRA have also identified evidence associated with him. The court has directed that a complete report be submitted on February 14.
Police officials have stated that if the court issues formal directions, Sohail Afridi will be questioned as part of the investigation. Meanwhile, the matter has sparked debate on social media, with questions being raised over whether the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police themselves sent the evidence to the Punjab Forensic Lab or if it was done strictly under court orders.
Speaking to Jang, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police did not send the material on their own. He explained that the court handed over a sealed envelope containing a USB drive to the investigation officer and ordered that it be sent to the forensic laboratory. He added that neither his lawyer nor the investigating officer was informed about the contents of the USB.
According to Afridi, his lawyer protested and demanded that the material be shown, but the court did not allow it. He further stated that the court instructed forensic experts to determine whether the person seen in the video was Sohail Afridi.
Forensic experts later confirmed that the individual appearing in the video was indeed Sohail Afridi. However, the key issue remains whether the video or images have any direct connection with the events of May 9. The chief minister maintained that police have not yet formally interrogated him regarding this matter.
Meanwhile, Capital City Police Peshawar Chief Mian Saeed told Jang that police had already completed their investigation and submitted the challan to the court. He said that after certain evidence was presented by the opposing counsel in court, the USB was handed over to the police under judicial orders.
According to the police chief, the court then directed police to send the USB to the Punjab Forensic Lab and NADRA. Both institutions have since submitted their reports to the court, and these reports have now been made part of the case record.
Police officials said that further action will be taken in line with the court’s next orders, adding that Sohail Afridi may be questioned if the court so directs. They stated that it is now for the court to determine whether the video and images are connected to the May 9 incident in Peshawar.
