ATC acquits two APS attack suspects

PESHAWAR:

In a significant development in one of country's most tragic terrorism cases, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Peshawar has acquitted two accused individuals for lack of evidence in the 2014 Army Public School (APS) attack, which claimed the lives of over 150 people, mostly school children.

The court, presided over by Judge Asad Ali, heard the case involving the brutal assault on December 16, 2014, when armed terrorists from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) stormed the Army Public School in Peshawar. The attack resulted in the martyrdom of more than 150 students and teachers, with around 250 others injured.

Prosecutors informed the court that the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) had nominated Shakil and Jan Wali as suspects following investigations and submitted a charge sheet against them. However, defense counsel argued that their clients had no involvement in the incident. They further contended that the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence or witnesses against the accused during the trial.

Under Section 265-K of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the defense moved for acquittal, asserting that no credible proof linked the suspects to the crime. After hearing complete arguments from both sides, the court accepted the plea and acquitted Shakil and Jan Wali, discharging them from the case.

The court also declared 16 other nominated terrorists as fugitives (absconders) and issued perpetual arrest warrants against them. The list includes prominent terrorist figures such as Mangal Bagh, Haji Gul Bahadur, Commander Umar Khalid Khurasani, Commander Hafiz Saeed, Commander Aurangzeb, Commander Fazlullah, Hafiz Daulat, Qari Shakil, Qari Saifullah, Islam Farooqi, Maulvi Faqir, Ajnabi, Angara Apaji, Abu Zar, and Sarwar Shah.

The ruling comes in the long-running legal proceedings related to the APS attack, one of the deadliest terrorist incidents in Pakistan's history. A judicial inquiry into the incident was conducted on the directives of the top court.