ATC awards death sentence to one in Mashal lynching case

Waqas Ahmed

HARIPUR: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) awarded death sentence to one accused and life imprisonment to five others in Mashal Khan murder case.

ATC Judge Fazle Subhan announced the verdict on Wednesday in central Prison of Haripur amid tight security. In the verdict the ATC also awarded four years imprisonment to 25 accused.

The court also acquitted 26 others after their involvement was not found in the lynching incident.

“No concrete evidence is brought against them and were not found to played any overt act in lynching of Mashal,” the court ruled. The exonerated persons were found only standing in the mob or making videos and therefore are acquitted of charges, the judgment reads.

Mashal Khan, a young student of journalism department of Abdul Wali Khan University, on April 13 2017 in the university was attacked and lynched to death by a mob of students in the varsity campus on April 13, 2017 over charges of blasphemy.

Later the Supreme Court of Pakistan took notice of the incident and after the investigation by Joint Investigation Team (JIT) which was constituted by KP government found no evidence of blasphemy charges against Mashal Khan.

The Anti-Terrorism court had reserved its verdict in the case on January 27, last. During the course of hearing a total of 57 accused were presented by the prosecution.

It merits mention here that in the Mashal Khan murder case, a total of 61 persons were charged, out of which 58 were arrested.

Out of 58 arrested persons, 57 were indicted under the charge while one was arrested in January 2018.

The accused who has been awarded death sentence is identified as Imran who fired at Mashal Khan resulting in his death.

Those were awarded life imprisonment are Fazal-e-Raziq, Mujeebullah, Ashfaq Khan, Mubashar Bashir and Bilal Baksh and they were also fined Rs. one lack each.

Strict security arrangements were made at time of announcement of judgment and army personnel were also deployed around the central prison to pre-empt any untoward happening.

Media men were not allowed to enter into jail premises due to security concerns as a result news men faced difficulties in getting details of judgment.

Aimal Khan, brother of Mashal Khan, while speaking to media demanded sentence for all the accused.

He also demanded of the government to take measures for those suspects who have escaped and are at large.

It merits mention here that in the Mashal Khan murder case, a total of 61 persons were charged, out of which 58 were arrested.

Meanwhile, PTI leader and an MPA, Shaukat Yousafzai told media persons that KP government would challenge acquittal in the case. He alleged that verdict has been announced in haste and government will challenge acquittal of 26 persons.