Lack of evidence: ATC releases four accused of murdering PTI MPA

Suspects include former provincial lawmaker Attiqur Rehman.

PESHAWAR:

Four suspects, including former Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) MPA Attiqur Rehman, were acquitted in the murder case of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Farid Khan who was shot dead on June 3, 2013 in Hangu.

Special anti-terrorism court (ATC) Judge Asim Imam, who was holding proceedings inside Central Prison Peshawar, released Rehman along with three others after they were acquitted in the case over lack of evidence.

The complainant, Shah Faisal Khan, who is the deceased’s brother, had named Rehman, Maulana Rafiq alias Nabi Gul, Yasir alias Mufti and Asif as the suspects. The accused were charged under sections 302, 148, 149, 324, 427 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, (amended 2013) 1997.

Danyal Khan, counsel of the accused Asif, Gul and Rafiq, told the court that according to the investigation officer of the case, a motorcycle, pistol and an AK-47 were recovered from the houses of his clients but the items did not belong to them and in fact a commander of a militant organisation was their owner.

He further told the court that there are a number of flaws in the investigation as the complainant was in Islamabad for business at the time of the incident while Rehman, the former JUI-F MPA, was in Peshawar at the time and thus had no relation with the murder.

The court then acquitted the four accused over lack of credible evidence against them and they resultantly walked out of prison.

Rehman was arrested from the courtroom on July 28 last year after the ATC refused to extend his bail before arrest in the case.

While obtaining bail in a previous hearing, Rehman had to go into hiding as supporters of the slain MPA surrounded the court premises in Kohat to stop him from obtaining the bail but the JUI-F leader managed to get it.

Following Fareed’s killing, angry protesters had taken to the streets and damaged dozens of shops in Hangu Bazaar where the situation remained tense for some time.

Fareed was killed along with his bodyguard when unidentified militants ambushed his vehicle in Mohallah Sangerh on June 3 last year. Fareed had won from PK-42 (Hangu-1) as an independent candidate, defeating his rival and two time winner from the seat, Attiqur Rehman.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2014.