Final decision: ‘Malala attack suspects released in court ruling’

Police say there were no covert deals, courts can make their own decision

MINGORA: Responding to media reports, security officials on Friday denied claims that the assailants of Malala Yousafzai were released as part of a deal. They added it was a court decision and the court framed charges against two of the accused while releasing the remaining eight suspects.

Malakand Division Regional Police Officer (RPO) Azad Khan said an anti-terrorism court sentenced Israur Rehman and Izharullah to life in prison while it released Shaukat, Irfan, Suleman, Bilal, Zafar Ali, Arafat, Ikram and Adnan.

“The courts are free to make their own decisions,” said the police official. He added the case was transparent and all details were on judicial records. The attackers were probably released from jail because the court decision must have reached the jail administration, he said.

District Police Officer (DPO) Saleem Marwat, while confirming these details, said the judiciary had made its decision and there were no covert deals. He said two attackers were convicted and sent to the district jail in Haripur to serve their sentences.

Four among other suspects are still at large and have been declared proclaimed offenders. They include TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah.

Malala Yousafzai, a student and education activist, was shot and critically injured in a TTP-orchestrated attack in October 2012. The teenager was on her way back home from school when gunmen apprehended the bus and boarded it before calling her out by name and opening fire.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2015.