LAHORE: Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari has said that Kyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi is likely to be disqualified in the case related to attack on the Radio Pakistan, Peshawar.

“Forensic evidence has confirmed that Sohail Afridi and other KP leadership including Kamran Bangash, Taimur Jhagra, Irfan Saleem, and ISF’s Aamir Chamkani were directly involved in the attack on Radio Pakistan, arson, and the destruction of public property. Their identities have been established by matching faces in the videos with their official and public profile photographs. A case is currently under trial in a court in Peshawar and based on evidence a possible disqualification is expected against these suspects,” Bokhari told a presser here on Monday.

The KP CM recently visited Sindh and Punjab to mobilise party workers for the street movement against the government as the main show across the country would be held on Feb 8 to mark the two years of what it called its `stolen mandate.’

Azma Bokhari further said that independent investigation conducted by the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory had conclusively proven that the May 9, 2023, attack on Radio Pakistan Peshawar was a well-organised and premeditated operation, with the direct involvement of several PTI leaders.

According to the forensic report, she said that audio and video footages were analysed frame by frame, and all evidence documented and submitted before the court.

She explained that these investigations were carried out under the directives of the Anti-Terrorism Court, which had ordered the police to submit a complete report in the Radio Pakistan attack case.

“Sixteen videos obtained from Peshawar were forensically examined, and no evidence of editing or tampering was found, confirming their authenticity,” she said.

On the other hand,several PTI leaders stated that these clips didn’t show the Radio Pakistan occurrence, which took place on May 10, 2023, after PTI founder Imran Khan was arrested in Islamabad.

Speaking on the PTI’s call for a wheel-jam strike on Feb 8, Bokhari said they planned a “new programme of anarchy to subjugate the state and make the law subservient to them, which cannot be made possible”.

She said the PTI’s politics had consistently revolved around unrest, violence, and vandalism, and even during its time in power, the party’s performance remained negligible.

Bokhari said during KP CM Sohail Afridi’s visit, PTI workers resorted to damaging vehicles, clearly reflecting their disruptive mindset.

“The state cannot allow any political party or group to damage national institutions, public assets, or the country’s dignity,” she said and made it clear the events of May 9 would never be forgotten and that all responsible individuals would be held accountable under the law.

“The state will not bow before false narratives, political theatrics or chaos and will ensure protection of citizens’ lives and property, respect for state institutions, and the supremacy of law at all costs.”

Azma Bokhari recalled that PTI founder Imran Khan himself had claimed he would apologise if vandalism was proven through forensic evidence, yet despite clear proof, no remorse or apology had been made so far.

Ms Bokhari further said individuals initially blamed on intelligence agencies were later identified as PTI workers, many of them were in jail. “Several people were seen on camera confessing to arson and property damage, while audio recordings of Murad Saeed are also available, in which he can be heard issuing direct instructions,” she said.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2026