Death sentence of main convict in Mashal murder case commuted

PHC rejects bail pleas of 25 other accused named in the case

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday commuted the death sentence awarded to the main accused in the murder of Mashal Khan – a student of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan – who was killed at the hands of an enraged mob in 2017 – to life imprisonment.

The court also rejected the bail pleas of 25 other accused named in the case. After declaration of the verdict, the accused were arrested from the court room.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Lal Jan Khattak and Justice Mian Atiq Shah announced the verdict on the appeals that were filed against the orders of the anti-terrorism court in the Mashal murder case.

Strict security arrangements were in place and a heavy contingent of police was deployed within the court premises where some of the accused along with their parents and relatives were also present.

The verdict on the appeals against the anti-terrorism court's order was reserved on September 29.

The high court rejected the bail pleas of 25 accused who had been slapped with three-year jail term and ordered their arrest after which, all the suspects present in the court were handcuffed and taken into custody.

The court also upheld the sentences of seven accused who were sentenced to life imprisonment.

On April 13, 2017, a student named Mashal Khan was killed by a mob at Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, after which a total of 61 accused were named in the case.

On February 7, 2018, an anti-terrorism court issued judgment for 57 accused, awarding punishment to 31 suspects while acquitting 26 others.

Of those punished, the main accused was given death sentence, three were given life imprisonment and 25 others were awarded three years imprisonment.

The PHC Abbottabad bench later released 25 accused on bail who were sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Four other accused were absconding in the case, including Arif – a councilor from the provincial ruling party – who was later arrested.

On March 21, 2019, an ATC in Peshawar sentenced two accused –Councilor Arif and Asad Mayar – to life imprisonment while acquitting the remaining two accused.

Mashal's father had filed a plea in the court to increase the sentences of the accused while the suspects had filed appeals against the sentences in the PHC on which the court ruled.