Asma Rani murder: PHC transfers case to Peshawar

Irfan files petition through lawyers Ghulam Mohiuddin Malik and Muhammad Farooq Malik

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Monday ordered to transfer the murder case of Asma Rani from Kohat to Peshawar following a request from the victim’s family. The directives were issued by Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Yahya Afridi on Monday after he heard a petition filed by Rani’s brother Muhammad Irfan. Irfan, who had filed the petition through lawyers Ghulam Mohiuddin Malik and Muhammad Farooq Malik, had claimed that his family was facing threats and that no lawyer in the area was willing to take the case since the suspect’s family was quite influential. He had subsequently requested the court to transfer the case to Peshawar. He further told the court the prime suspect’s family is very influential besides having powerful political links. Hence, in this situation, they were unable to secure justice in Kohat. “We are feeling insecure in the district, as we are unable to hire a local lawyer,” the family told the court. Rani, a third-year medical student, had been gunned down in Kohat in January, allegedly by Mujahid Afridi.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2018.