- The court requests the complete forensic file by February 14.
- CM says pen drive was sent on court order.
- Police are awaiting court directions to investigate CM.
PESHAWAR: Fresh controversy erupted in the May 9 case after reports from the Punjab Forensic Agency and Nadra linked video evidence to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, prompting the court to seek a full report on February 14. News reported.
According to official reports received from the Punjab forensic agency, evidence presented in the case has been linked to CM Afridi, while a separate verification report by Nadra has also identified material relating to him.
The court ordered that the full forensic and verification reports be submitted on February 14. The police claimed that if asked by the court, they would formally investigate the KP chief minister in the case.
Meanwhile, questions have surfaced on social media whether the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police itself sent the evidence relating to the chief minister to the Punjab forensic laboratory or whether the documents were sent strictly on the orders of the court.
Talk to NewsCM Afridi said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police did not send the material on their own initiative. He said the court handed over a sealed envelope containing a USB drive to the investigating officer and ordered it to be sent to the forensic laboratory.
According to the chief minister, neither his lawyer nor the investigating officer was informed about the contents of the USB drive. He said his lawyer asked for the documents to be presented in court, but the judge did not allow it, adding that the documents were sent as part of what he described as an act of injustice.
Sohail Afridi added that the court had asked forensic experts to determine whether the person in the video was him. He said experts confirmed the person in the footage was him.
“However, the real question is whether Sohail Afridi has any connection with the May 9 incidents or not,” the chief minister said. He added that no investigation has so far been conducted against him by the police in connection with the case.
Meanwhile, Capital Peshawar Police Officer (CCPO) Mian Saeed said News that the police had already completed their investigation into the matter and submitted the challan to the court.
He said that after the defense lawyer presented certain materials in court, the court ordered that the USB drive be handed over to the police. Subsequently, the court ordered the police to send the pendrive to the Punjab Forensic Agency and Nadra for verification.
The CCPO said the forensic and Nadra reports were submitted to the court and formally placed on record. He added that further action would now be taken as per the next court order.
According to the CCPO, if the court issues directions, CM Afridi will also be investigated. He said it would now be up to the court to determine whether the video and images had any connection with the May 9 incident in Peshawar.
